Sandi takes aim at Cox for derby

Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands is bracing for a rested Dean Cox and an in-form Nic Naitanui in Saturday's crucial clash with West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

Sandilands continued his brilliant year with 41 hit-outs, 13 disposals and a goal in wet conditions at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night as the Dockers surged into the top four with an 83-point win over Brisbane.

Fourth-placed Fremantle are now just one win, and percentage, off second spot.

Last time Sandilands and Zac Clarke came up against Naitanui and Cox in the round seven western derby, the Fremantle pair had a decisive win, combining for 35 disposals, 43 hit-outs and three goals, compared with 21 possessions, 27 hit-outs and no shots on goal from the Eagles duo.

But Sandilands says it will be tougher this time with Cox being rested over the past fortnight and Naitanui finding form.

"Cox is a great player and they (have) got some great ruck stocks and their combinations are really good so we're going to have to be on top of our game to match them," he said.

"He (Naitanui) is also a quality player and he's in some really good form at the moment so it's going to be a tough challenge.

"It all comes back to action and how we want to play and if we put another four-quarter performance together, hopefully the result will go our way."

Sandilands said the victory over the Lions was one of Fremantle's more consistent efforts over four quarters this season.

The Dockers dominated the clearances 50-33 and contested possessions 178-132.

Some of Sandilands' ruck work was textbook and the veteran said the chemistry was improving every week.

"We do a lot of work during training to try and hit it to the advantage of the mids and when it comes off it's great," he said.

"We have had our ups and downs, some weeks have been better than others but I think overall it's been something that we've been working on very strongly as a midfield group and something we have got to keep on improving."

The 31-year-old said he didn't want a rest after playing all 13 games this season.

"I am feeling really good at the moment," Sandilands said.

"I have missed a lot of footy over the last three years so I am loving running down the race every week and just enjoying my footy at the moment so I don't feel like I need to be rested."

Fremantle face a nervous wait for the match review panel findings today with defender Zac Dawson likely to come under scrutiny for a late and high spoil on Lewis Taylor in the final term.

Dawson has 97.5 carryover points on his record meaning any adverse finding would see him miss the derby with tall targets Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern and Jack Darling looming and Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin out injured.

Sandilands said the Dockers played "within the spirit of the game".

"… they (have) got some great ruck stocks … we're going to have to be on top of our game ..." " *Aaron Sandilands * on the Eagles