Fremantle coach Ross Lyon hopes the club’s pre-season focus on cleaner ball movement will give them the crucial midfield edge in Friday night’s AFL blockbuster against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

Lyon is wary of Collingwood’s vaunted midfield brigade, which boasts Brownlow medallist Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Clinton Young, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams and Luke Ball.

Fremantle also possess a host of match-winning ball winners led by Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill.

The Dockers’ late start to the pre-season following 2013’s grand final appearance has left them looking a tad vulnerable heading into round one.

But Lyon is confident his players are ready to fire, and highlighted the midfield battle as a key area against the Magpies.

“It’s going to be won and lost in the midfield, particularly at Etihad,” Lyon told Perth radio station 6PR. “If you get first hands and you go forward, you tend to score.

“Their starting six midfielders are as good as any in the competition. Swann, Pendlebury, Beams, Ball, Young, Sidebottom – they’re elite.

“But we do like Etihad. In my tenure there we’ve won five out of six, and beaten some quality teams there.”

Fremantle goal sneak Michael Walters has been cleared to play after accepting a reprimand for his high bump on Eagles youngster Brant Colledge.

Lyon said Brownlow medal fancy Fyfe (knee) and forward Hayden Ballantyne (corked leg) were also ready to return.

But ruckman Zac Clarke (knee) will almost certainly miss out, while new recruit Colin Sylvia will start the year in the WAFL after enduring injury hiccups during the summer.

Jack Hannath appears to have won the race to be Sandilands’ understudy while Clarke is out injured.