Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands will miss his second AFL game on the trot with a foot injury, but the Dockers deny the 211cm giant is battling a season-threatening stress fracture.

Rumours abound that Sandilands has developed a hot spot in his foot and could miss more games in what would be a devastating blow to Fremantle's finals build-up.

But the Dockers are hopeful another week's rest will allow Sandilands to return against Hawthorn in round 21.

"We've said all along that it's plantar fasciitis and that diagnosis has not changed," Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond told the club's website on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, Aaron has not come up in time and will be rested for another week."

Sydney will try to capitalise on Sandilands' absence in Saturday's crucial clash at Subiaco Oval.

The Dockers recalled 20-year-old ruckman Zac Clarke in an attempt to fill the void.

But the Swans, boasting ruck duo Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke, should have a clear advantage at the stoppages.

Sydney star Adam Goodes scoffed at suggestions the Dockers were vulnerable given their high injury toll, which includes Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Tarrant, Ryan Crowley, Chris Mayne, Alex Silvagni and Sandilands.

"I don't think there's a good or bad time to get the Dockers," Goodes said on Thursday.

"Playing them on their home ground, they're going to be really disappointed in their performance last week (a 54-point loss to North Melbourne).

"We've had a lot of performances like that this year where we've bounced back the week after.

"I'm definitely thinking the Dockers are going to bounce back this week.

"They're on their home turf, they've had plenty of rest, they'll be sleeping in their own beds on Friday night, so they'll be itching to come out on Saturday and perform."

Dockers midfielder Rhys Palmer was a high-profile omission after his error-riddled performance against the Kangaroos, while Jay van Berlo and Justin Bollenhagen were also dropped.

Byron Schammer and Michael Walters were recalled along with Clarke, who tallied just two disposals and one hit-out in his only AFL outing this season.

Fifth-placed Fremantle will secure a home final with victory over Sydney, who sit in seventh place and named an unchanged line-up after last week's 44-point win over Hawthorn.

"I was just really happy that as a forward line and as a group we were able to kick 19 goals and have a lot of scoring shots," Goodes said of that performance.

"That's something we hadn't been able to do as a forward group."

Goodes said the Swans would need to keep a close eye on Dockers midfielder Stephen Hill, who will be looking to atone after collecting just seven disposals last week.

"I reckon Hilly will bounce back this week so we've got to watch out for him on the outside," Goodes said.

"The way the Dockers play this ground, they're up and back (due to how) fit they are, so that's one key area we really have to focus on Saturday."

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