Fremantle's injury crisis is set to ease in the coming weeks, with defenders Roger Hayden, Alex Silvagni and Tendai Mzungu all edging closer to AFL returns.

Hayden (foot) was listed as being up to nine weeks away from resuming when the club released their injury list earlier this week, while Mzungu (knee) was quoted as at least four weeks and Silvagni (groin) up to four weeks from a return.

But the trio ran strongly on Wednesday, with coach Mark Harvey suggesting all three could return earlier than expected.

"Once they start running like that, they join in training quite quickly and then they play," Harvey said.

"The fact that they're out there running suggests that they're getting closer.

"It'd be Mzungu, Silvagni and Hayden in that order (for a playing return).

"We've been fortunate because we've only played 25 players (so far this year).

"Obviously we've got a lot of guys out and, had we got a few more injuries in the last five weeks that we've played, that would have been a concern for us."

Harvey said midfielder Michael Barlow, who suffered a horrific broken leg last season, had resumed kicking drills and was also nearing a return to full training.

"He was actually out there kicking this morning. So that's telling you once again that he's moving into team training," Harvey said.

"At the moment it's still individualised but, in coming weeks, it'll be team training and we'll take it from there.

"It's just soreness in and around the leg (he experiences now and then) and he's getting used to the running load again."

Defender Greg Broughton (hamstring/back) is expected to return for Saturday's clash with Richmond at the MCG, while forward Michael Walters will be out for just one week with an ankle injury.

Fremantle sit fourth on the table following a promising start to the season, but will face a stiff test against the Tigers, who have posted wins over North Melbourne and Brisbane in the past fortnight.

Despite Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt booting a league-best 21 goals this season, Harvey was unsure exactly what role the defending Coleman Medallist would be given this week.

"It's interesting when you listen to (Tigers coach) Damien (Hardwick) speak sometimes. It doesn't always necessarily look like he wants him (Riewoldt) down there being the prominent full-forward," Harvey said.

"I guess they grapple with that all the time.

"I'm just saying it's just interesting listening to Damien over the last four or five weeks, depending on whether they win or lose, what he actually says.

"Two weeks ago, they had him running off the wing early in the game like Buddy Franklin, so you make up your own mind."

Luke McPharlin, Antoni Grover or Michael Johnson will get the job on Riewoldt, but Harvey refused to say which one will get first crack.

The Dockers have lost their past seven matches at the MCG, but Harvey is unfazed by that record.

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