Sylvia's effort good enough for Freo

Colin Sylvia will retain his place for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane at Patersons Stadium despite managing just three disposals in 40 minutes in his Fremantle debut.

Sylvia was substituted into the match against Richmond at the 20-minute mark of the third quarter and had one kick, two handballs, one mark, a tackle and a clanger in an unspectacular AFL return.

But coach Ross Lyon said Sylvia would be given another chance to cement his spot.

"I wouldn't have thought we'd be sending him back to the WAFL," Lyon said.

"I don't give anyone any games. You earn them. He's earned his spot, he played. Certainly his output was solid. The players are giving good feedback. They sort of liked his effort.

"Peel got smashed on the weekend. I don't think there's too many there tipping him out."

But Lyon was vague on Anthony Morabito's prospects of returning against Brisbane.

He also said the Dockers were not in a position to rest veterans Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands in the run to the finals.

Lyon dismissed fitness concerns over Alex Silvagni (ribs), Ryan Crowley (hand) and Danyle Pearce (illness), saying they should line up against the struggling Lions.

The trio all trained strongly in stormy conditions at Fremantle Oval yesterday.

Defender Zac Dawson is free to play after accepting a reprimand for a misconduct charge.

Lyon said several of Sylvia's efforts against Richmond had featured prominently in a post-match video package shown to players yesterday.

Pavlich and Sandilands have played every game to the halfway point for the first time since 2010.

"With Aaron, it was a short break, so it's a bit hard on the old guys, but they're in pretty good nick," Lyon said.

"Aaron's missed a fair bit of footy over the last three years. Matthew's missed a fair bit last year. They're saying to me they feel good.

"If they were to come to me and say 'I'm struggling', we would listen, but it (resting) is not something we're in a position to do."

Brisbane have not beaten the Dockers since round 16, 2009, and have won just three matches this year, but Lyon said chasing a percentage-boosting win was something he never considered.

"I've never rolled up to a game thinking we're going to win or smash anyone," he said.

"I'm the fear factor. I always think we're going to lose."