FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon believes recent improvement in his midfield has the team well placed to cause an upset at AAMI Stadium on Sunday against the AFL's leading clearance side.
Adelaide is ranked No.1 in the League this season for overall clearances and contested possessions, with key midfielders Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield each ranked top five in both categories.
In-form tagger Ryan Crowley is set to target one of the damaging duo, but Lyon said his midfield would otherwise back itself, with David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Nat Fyfe all in strong form.
"Our contest and clearance work has improved significantly over the last five weeks and that's been personnel changes, slight structure tweaks, and then bringing great effort," Lyon said as Fremantle flew out of Perth on Thursday.
"We're scoring more from clearances and we're creating good turnovers in the midfield. They're the things that have given opportunities for the forwards.
"We've been backing everyone in and you just rely on your team defence."
Lyon said last Saturday's big derby win over West Coast had reinforced the direction his group was taking, with the players gaining confidence from beating a top-four contender.
He said Adelaide's midfielders had dominated the competition in contested ball and clearances, and stopping the midfield supply for tall forwards Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker would be crucial on Saturday.
"They go to their key forwards and they've got a fleet of small players that really damaged us last time," Lyon said.
"(Matthew) Wright kicked three, I know he's moved to the midfield, then (Ian) Callinan, (Jared) Petrenko and those types are really dangerous at ground level.
"The simplicity is good and that's what they bring - contest, clearance and kicking use to their talls with smalls at their feet."
Tippett has been named to play his first game since suffering a third concussion of the season against West Coast in round 17.
Lyon has called on Alex Silvagni to replace suspended key defender Luke McPharlin, who had his one-match ban for making forceful front-on contact upheld at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.
Nick Suban replaced Dylan Roberton, while Lachie Neale travelled as an emergency as Fremantle looks to hand the Crows just their second loss at AAMI Stadium this season.
"They've got (Josh) Jenkins and Walker and potentially Tippett, who we think will play," Lyon said.
"Whether Tippett plays or not, Alex will come in and get an opportunity ... it's an opportunity for Alex to step up.
"They (Adelaide) rank No.1 for goals from marks in the AFL so that tells you a bit about how they like to score.
"They're a really big challenge. But we're going to rely on pressure up the field.
"We were able to defend well last week [because of] pressure around the ball, and we need to bring that again."
Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
