Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich won't let the fact that coach Mark Harvey's contract is up at season's end affect the way the Dockers go about their 2010 AFL campaign.

Harvey being off-contract has inevitably led to speculation about his future, but Pavlich says he and his players won't be letting that enter their thoughts as they prepare for the season.

"From our perspective it's always business as usual from the playing group and it's certainly not discussed at any level," he said.

"We are all focusing on preparing the best we can, both from a game-plan and strategic point of view as well as physiologically come round one.

"Hopefully we can remain that for the whole 22 rounds."

With 10 debutants from 2009 that should keep improving, a host of new draftees arriving along with the returning Adam McPhee, and Rhys Palmer, Ryan Crowley, Michael Johnson, Roger Hayden and Des Headland back to full fitness, Pavlich sees every reason to be positive.

Defender Steven Dodd also looks on track to be right for the start of the season after wrist and shoulder operations threatened to keep him out for half of 2010.

"Having 10 guys debut last year and the likes of Des Headland, Michael Johnson, Roger Hayden, Rhys Palmer and Ryan Crowley all playing less than 10 games, we feel as though we have a lot of improvement left in us," Pavlich said.

"I'm excited at what we can possibly do early on in the season.

"(Dodd's) running really well, has a lot of volume of work in him and he's progressing a lot quicker than the outlook was early in the pre-season.

"I would suggest that he could play one or two games towards the end of the NAB Cup or Challenge."

Exciting youngster Stephen Hill was one of the best signs coming out of Fremantle in 2009 with his lightning pace, ball-winning ability and terrific left-boot.

He has bulked up a little over summer and Pavlich is excited at what he could offer, not only in 2010, but for years to come along with the likes of Nic Suban, Hayden Ballantyne and Greg Broughton.

"He's certainly holding his body a lot better as compared to 12 months ago and that's no surprise given he's had time to mature and with a weights and strength program," the skipper said of Hill.

"He's an unbelievably exciting player with the things that he does will be great for the Fremantle fans in the years to come.

"Stephen is looking bigger and stronger, but at the same time he still has that explosive pace.

"It's a delicate balancing act because you want him to stay the same Stephen Hill we recruited him as, but at the same time he has to be able to hold his own a little better than he did last year."

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