Fremantle have been bolstered by the return of star duo Mim Strom and Aisling McCarthy ahead of a crucial clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Strom returns after being a late out due to shoulder soreness last week, while McCarthy will face her former side having missed the last fortnight with knee soreness.

However, the Dockers will be without All-Australian defender Emma O’Driscoll, who is set for a stint on the sidelines after hurting her ankle in the early stages of last Sunday’s win over Essendon.

Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said there was yet to be a timeline for the star’s return.

“She won’t play this week, but we’ll have a bit of an update over the next few days,” Webb said. “We’ll wait for all the scans, definitely not this week, but hopefully in the near future.”

While Webb admitted you couldn’t replace O’Driscoll, she praised her side’s “next player up” mentality as they’ve battled the loss of multiple key players to begin the season.

“I mean we’re never going to replace someone like Emma, but what we can do is all step into a role, and I think you’ve seen that over the last few weeks,” she said.

“This presents another challenge as well, but never once have the girls shied away from being able to do that.”

At the halfway mark of the season, a win over a fellow top-eight contender in the Western Bulldogs could prove crucial to the club’s finals chances.

Webb said it was an important contest against another team 3-2 on the ladder after five rounds.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for them, but you know we feel like we’re building some really strong form,” she said.

The Bulldogs are set to welcome back superstar Ellie Blackburn alongside Louise Stephenson, while after being a late inclusion last week, Dockers tall Tunisha Kikoak will miss with a back injury.

FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS Saturday, Cockburn Arc Oval, 1:05pm

DOCKERS

B: J.Low A.Brazill

HB: S.Verrier A.Healy H.Egan

C: I.WEST K.Bowers M.Banfield

HF: M. Kauffman H. Miller B.Smith

F: E.Zanker G. O’Sullivan

FOLL: M.Strom G.Newton A.Stannett

I/C: M.Scanlon A.McCarthy G.Brisbane O.Lally N.McNaughton

EMG: L.Pugh L.Johnson M.Bessen

IN: A.McCarthy M.Strom

OUT: E.O’Driscoll (ankle) T.Kikoak (back)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: V.Laloifi B.Gutknecht

HB: E.Georgostathis K.Kimber E.Bennetts

C: R.Wilcox I.Pritchard J.Smith

HF: H.Woodley S.Hartwig E.Grigg

F: E.Gavalas E.McDonald

FOLL: A.Edmonds M.Cann J.Fitzgerald

I/C: C Buttifant L.Stephenson I.Grant E.Blackburn D.Carruthers

IN: L.Stephenson E.Blackburn

OUT: A.McKee S.Poustie (both omitted)