Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has confirmed Sean Darcy will not feature in their massive game against Geelong on Thursday night, with the ruckman to again line up in the WAFL.

Longmuir also opened up on the forthcoming squeeze for spots in the Dockers’ side for their clash with the Cats, admitting the impending returns of Caleb Serong, Brennan Cox and Matthew Johnson would result in some unlucky omissions.

Last month, Darcy made his return from a calf injury which emerged while he was sidelined with a concussion suffered against at Gather Round with Peel Thunder, playing two games in the State league before the club’s mid-season bye last weekend.

He won 36 hit-outs and 13 disposals in around 80 minutes of game time opposed to West Coast’s Matt Flynn in his return and backed up with a 28 hit-out, 21-disposal effort against Swan Districts the following week.

Longmuir told 7NEWS the selection committee still felt Darcy was still not quite at his very best.

“We’ve opted to give him another week in the WAFL,” Longmuir said of the 2021 Doig medallist.

“That’s more to make sure we get him cherry ripe for his return.

“We probably feel like he hasn’t got to 100 per cent fitness and form just yet and one more week will benefit him in the WAFL before he puts his hand up.”

Darcy is now set to take on one of the WAFL’s premier ruckmen in former Docker Scott Jones when the Thunder come up against East Perth in Mandurah on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Fremantle confirmed vice-captain Serong (calf), key defender Cox (knee) and improved midfielder Johnson (hamstring) would be available for selection against the Cats, despite remaining marked as ‘tests’ on the club’s injury list.

Fringe key defender Oscar McDonald shapes as the likely candidate to make way for Cox, but Serong and Johnson’s returns would push out two more players who featured in their 124-point thrashing of North Melbourne before the bye.

While saying selection pressure is important, Longmuir said any player who found themselves dropped could be counted as unlucky.

“This week, we’re going to have to leave some guys out and make some changes with guys who are in really good form,” he said.

“It’s a good position to be in as a footy club. I said it to the players today — we’ve got a lot of players who are fit, we’ve also got a lot of players who are in good form at Peel at WAFL level.

“Unfortunately, some players are going to have to miss out.”