Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich is yet to confirm whether he'll be at the AFL club next season, playing down suggestions he has missed the chance to deliver a major morale boost ahead of Saturday's elimination final against Hawthorn.

Pavlich is almost certain to re-sign with the Dockers but has put contract talks with the club on hold until the end of Fremantle's season, claiming it wasn't necessary for him to announce his intentions just yet.

"In terms of putting percentages on those sort of things (of how much motivation it would give the other players) and how much difference that makes, I don't know," Pavlich said when queried on his future.

"But certainly from our perspective it's business as usual. We are worrying about the stuff that we know is important."

Pavlich has played just five finals in his glittering 234-game career.

But the 28-year-old veteran is confident a bright future lies ahead at the Dockers, who finished the home and away season in sixth place on 13 wins.

"Certainly very hopeful of that (more finals in coming years) being the case," he said.

"There's certainly some building blocks that are there ... to ensure our supporters going forward will have a bright future.

"We've got so many young players that have made an impact over the first or second year of their career, so it's an exciting time for the footy club."

Despite the absence of feisty forward Hayden Ballantyne (foot), defender Chris Tarrant (knee) and midfielder Michael Barlow (broken leg), Dockers coach Mark Harvey was pleased with how his squad was placed heading into the finals.

"What was pleasing was that a lot of our players that have sort of fought their way through the season appear to be in good form," Harvey said.

But Harvey said his team faced a challenging task to progress past the first week of the finals, labelling Hawthorn in the same bracket as minor premiers Collingwood as the two outstanding teams over the second half of the season.

"They've probably been the best performed team in the second half of the season," Harvey said of the Hawks, who have won 11 of their past 15 games.

For Harvey, it will be his first final as a senior coach after guiding the Dockers to 14th place in his previous two seasons at the helm.

Although Fremantle have exceeded all expectations this year by earning a home final, Harvey urged his charges to make the most of the opportunity that awaits.

"It (our year) is only successful if you can capitalise on it," Harvey said.

"We've certainly captured the imagination of us emerging but in reality we need to make sure we assert ourselves during this time."

The Hawks will travel to Perth on Friday somewhat distracted after it emerged fringe midfielder Travis Tuck required hospital treatment after suffering a suspected drug overdose over the weekend.

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