Fremantle have confirmed skipper Alex Pearce will be the sole inclusion to the team of 23 that will face the reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions, at the Gabba on Saturday 30 May. 

Pearce comes into the side for Oscar McDonald, who has been omitted. 

The skipper returns to the side after missing the Club’s previous two outings with a knee injury. 

Mason Cox, Neil Erasmus, Chris Scerri, Corey Wagner and Karl Worner make up the starting five-man bench.

McDonald becomes one of the emergencies for the clash, along with Jaeger O’Meara and Jeremy Sharp. 

Midfielder Hayden Young will remain on the sidelines for another week, with the Club erring on the side of caution following his return from concussion suffered in training after Round 9. 

Speaking at his Thursday morning media conference, senior coach Justin Longmuir said Young would not train with the main group in the morning and that the assessment would be left to the Club’s medical team. 

“More hopeful than confident (that Young would play),” Longmuir said. 

“It's just one of those things that we don't want to take any risks with. 

“He's got some boxes to tick today, and I'll leave it to him and the medicos. But I'm probably more hopeful.” 

Longmuir also confirmed that ruckman Sean Darcy would make his return to football in the WAFL for Peel Thunder on Sunday, where he could potentially line up against fellow West Coast AFL ruck Matt Flynn. 

“First of all, just get through the game. It's really important for his fitness build to get through his 80 minutes,” Longmuir said. 

“I'd say knock a bit of rust off his ruck craft. He's been out for a while. 

“It's a great challenge for him (potentially rucking against Flynn).  

“It's also a good challenge for Aiden Riddle, who's been in really good form at WAFL level as well, against the Eagles’ rucks.” 

Fremantle’s game will commence at 2.15pm WST on Saturday and will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, and streamed live on Kayo and 7plus from 2.00pm WST. 

It will be the team’s first Saturday game since the Round 7 Len Hall Tribute Game win over Carlton.