Fremantle defender Brenna Cox is confident the backline will barely have to change the way they play after the coaches took a no-risk approach to replacing captain Alex Pearce for Sunday’s game at the MCG, choosing experienced backman Oscar McDonald ahead of in-form youngster Hugh Davies.

The Dockers, who have adopted the name Walyalup for Sir Doug Nicholls round are attempting to win their ninth game in a row – an equal club record – and are overwhelming favourites to beat an Essendon team that has won only one of its last 22 games.

Davies and McDonald both travelled to Victoria with the team following Pearce’s knee injury but Fremantle focused on experience instead of youth as they attempt to maintain their fantastic run of form.

McDonald played in the first two rounds of the season and has been the man the Dockers have consistently turned to when any of their first choice backmen haven’t been available.

The 30-year-old has played nearly 100 games for the Dockers, Melbourne and Carlton, and gives Fremantle stability in defence.

Cox said everyone understood McDonald’s importance.

“Obviously he’s done it in the past when Moose has gotten injured. He’s always come in and played his role,” Cox said.

“He’s pretty quick as well. So he can play tall or small and he can play and deep and high. He’s pretty fit. He can do any role that we need to. He’s so reliable.

“We’ve obviously played a lot of games together now, so we know what to expect, and know what he can bring to any game.”

The Dockers also lost Hayden Young (concussion) and Corey Wagner (abductor) which robbed them of three experienced players.

Nathan O’Driscoll and Chris Scerri joined McDonald in the team.

The Dockers struggled to stop Jack Gunston in the first half against Hawthorn last week but Cox eventually got on top of him after replacing Luke Ryan during the match.

Essendon have Peter Wright and Nate Caddy playing as their key forwards and Longmuir has shown them plenty of respect by refusing to use the match to blood a youngster like Davies.

Cox said the defenders would barely have to change the way they play with McDonald coming in the line-up.

“Obviously, Moose is a really good player for us, is our captain, and he’s been playing really well. But normally I’m always the deepest defender, so that doesn’t really change too much,” he said.

“Maybe I’ll get bit of a higher role but mainly it’s that leadership we need to replace. We just have to be really vocal. He often goes up to the midfielders and connects with them a fair bit. So we’ll be trying to do that with Jordy and Lukey as well. It’s that leadership piece and just trying to pick up the slack.”

Victory will see the Dockers equal the nine consecutive wins they achieved in 2015 and 2006.

Essendon made two changes to the team that lost to Greater Western Sydney. The Bombers brought back Jye Caldwell and Will Setterfield after losing Dyson Sharp and Zak Johnson to injury.