Fremantle coach Mark Harvey expects back-to-back hit-outs against last year's powerhouse sides to give him a better idea on the worth of his AFL team.

The Dockers were no match for St Kilda in Saturday night's pre-season semi-final at Etihad Stadium, and Harvey rued a string of turnovers and a lack of defensive pressure against last year's beaten grand finalist.

Fremantle's loss condemned to the practice-match circuit, and they will play 2009 premier Geelong at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

Harvey said the two games would give his players an understanding on where they need to improve in 2010, following last year's finish of 14th.

"I just said to them: 'Look, if that's the grand final team from last year and we play Geelong this week, so we're playing both of them effectively in a week, then we need to really find out and suit ourselves to make sure that issues don't arise like they did (against St Kilda)'," Harvey said.

Despite Saturday night's poor showing, Harvey was confident the Dockers would boast better internal competition for spots in 2010 given the large group of debutants they blooded last year.

"I don't think there's too many holes in our side where we can get exposed, so (last) night I said 'If you think you're in the side you're not'," he said.

Harvey acknowledged his midfielders badly missed the influence of ruckman Aaron Sandilands, but had no regrets about resting him at this stage of the pre-season.

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