Luke Jackson will ruck solo for Walyalup (Fremantle) in their clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, with Sean Darcy ruled out with knee soreness.

Liam Reidy flew to Sydney with teammates on Thursday, but has been named as an emergency, with the Dockers instead including Bailey Banfield as part of a smaller forward line.

Darcy was substituted out of Thursday night’s defeat to Collingwood with knee soreness. Coach Justin Longmuir said earlier this week he is expected to be fit for next week’s clash with Port Adelaide.

It means Jackson — who has spent time in the ruck, up forward and even as a midfielder in his own right in recent weeks — will be unleashed in the middle full-time.

It comes amid a turbulent time for Freo’s ruck division, with growing concerns over Darcy’s ruck partnership with Jackson, and The West Australian’s report Jackson is expected to request a trade to Melbourne at the end of this season.

It means Darcy has featured in just 17 of the Dockers’ past 39 matches — and has been substituted out of three of those games.

“We know it’s not too serious, which is a good sign,” Longmuir said earlier this week.

“We feel if he does miss this week, he will be right for next week. We feel we have dodged a bullet in the short term.

“He’s handled it really well, I probably expected him to be a little bit more frustrated than he was, but he has been really mature about it, he understands that some of these things might pop up every now and then with different instances that can pop up in a game.

“He’s happy that it’s not serious.”

Reidy has played one game this season, leading the ruck in the disastrous round one defeat to Geelong.

The back-up ruck and out-of-favour utility James Aish are the Dockers’ travelling emergencies. Peel Thunder do not have a WAFL fixture this week for the State game bye.

GWS have named two West Australian guns to return for the clash. Darcy Jones and Toby Bedford have both recovered from injury in time for the clash, with Jake Stringer ruled out.

Adam Kingsley has also dropped Josaia Delana after two matches.

Walyalup v GWS Giants

Saturday, Engie Stadium, 2.15pm

FREMANTLE

B: L Ryan A Pearce B Cox

HB: H Chapman K Worner J Clark

C: J Sharp S Bolton M Johnson

HF: M Frederick S Switkowski I Dudley

F: P Voss J Treacy J Amiss

FOLL: L Jackson C Serong A Brayshaw

I/C: M Reid C Wagner N Erasmus C Simpson B Banfield

EMG: O McDonald J Aish L Reidy

IN: B Banfield

OUT: S Darcy

More to come