Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has complimented Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich by calling him a beast ahead of Saturday's AFL clash at Patersons Stadium in Perth.

Pavlich will notch his 250th game when he lines up against the Suns, and McKenna believed it was only a matter of time before the 29-year-old became immortalised in bronze at Fremantle Oval.

"I think if they're going to make statues down at Fremantle Oval, he'd be the first one that's certainly cast in bronze, that's for sure," McKenna said on Friday.

"I say this in a very nice way, he's just a beast.

"He demands the footy, he wins the footy."

And after watching Pavlich kick five goals from 29 possessions against Brisbane last week, McKenna said the veteran's impact would be profound no matter what position he played.

"(I'm) probably more comfortable with him on the bench," McKenna joked.

"He's a quality player, but so is Gary Ablett, and to see those two guys potentially go head to head would be a thrill for WA fans.

"We've done a lot of homework into `Pav', it's going to mean probably very little of course because of the way he produces his footy.

"But if I had a preference (of where he plays) it would probably be more in the midfield because he is away from goals.

"But then how many does he set up? I know when he's forward he kicks goals. He's averaging two goals or three goal a game now, so if he's up the field he may set up four or five, so it's hard to judge."

McKenna said he was proud of the way Gold Coast second-gamer Joel Wilkinson had dealt with the extra media attention over the past few days after being racially abused by Western Bulldogs forward Justin Sherman last week.

"He's a very intelligent boy," McKenna said.

"You don't have to go into great detail to understand how hurt and disappointed he was with all that.

"I said to him he's done enough to play a second game but it's totally in his court (as to whether he played) ... that's your call.

"I don't fully understand what he's been through and probably never will but you know the ball was in his court and he said 'look things were done, the process went through, I'm comfortable now, I want to play a game of footy, I love this club, I want to represent the footy club as best I can, I'm keen to play', so that was enough for me."

Although the Suns will be without key midfielder Michael Rischitelli against the Dockers, McKenna was thrilled to have Western Australia-born goalsneak Brandon Matera back in the side after a frustrating groin injury.

"He obviously loves coming back home and it'd be a great thrill for him," McKenna said.

"He's grown up watching all his uncles play and father play and so he gets his opportunity to actually get out and strut his stuff, which he's looking forward to."

Fremantle welcomed back Hayden Ballantyne, Antoni Grover and Tendai Mzungu from injury, while Jonathon Griffin replaced the injured Aaron Sandilands in the ruck.

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