Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow insists there will be no mental demons when he makes his long-awaited playing return from a broken leg this weekend.

Barlow, who snapped the fibula and tibia in his lower left leg when teammate Rhys Palmer slid into him in round 14 last year, will end 11 frustrating months when he lines up for Peel Thunder's reserve side in the WAFL on Saturday.

The 23-year-old will play about half a game and said he held no fears about injuring the leg again.

"If you start worrying about those kind of possibilities, it's just going to put you behind the eight ball from the start," Barlow said on Monday.

"I'm just going to play footy like I usually did.

"It's probably unrealistic to think that I'm going to go out and get 40 possessions or whatever.

"I'm just looking forward to having a kick of the football again."

Barlow, who made a blistering start to his AFL career last year and quickly established himself as one of Fremantle's most important players, will spend several weeks in the WAFL before pushing for a Dockers recall.

The prolific ball-winner was grateful for all the advice he had received, especially from past and current players who had gone through a similar experience.

"Initially when I did it, guys like Michael Voss, Chris Newman and Garry Lyon all spoke to me and have maintained some sort of contact, Nathan Brown as well," Barlow said.

"So to see what Michael Voss was able to do from when he did it - he did it relatively early in his career and that gives you a lot of confidence.

"Nathan Brown had a chat to me more about not rushing it.

"He conceded that he probably rushed it a bit. He was able to get back playing and ran into some issues further down the track."

Barlow, who had the plate and screws from his mended leg taken out earlier this year, was confident the injury wouldn't affect his career, even joking it had fixed up his running style.

"I used to waddle abit like a duck anyway," he said with a laugh.

The injury-hit Dockers (5-4) will be looking to atone for last week's 46-point drubbing at the hands of St Kilda when they take on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.

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