Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes insists his team are more intent on ending their Perth hoodoo rather than ruining Fremantle’s top-six aspirations in Saturday night’s AFL clash at Patersons Stadium.

The Demons have lost their past 12 games in Perth, with their last triumph at Patersons Stadium coming against the Dockers in round 11, 2004.

Fremantle will finish either sixth, seventh or eighth on the ladder depending on results this weekend.

If Sydney beat Geelong on Saturday, seventh-placed Fremantle will need to defeat Melbourne by a sizeable margin to finish sixth and secure a home final.

But Grimes couldn’t care less about the Dockers’ plight, and is instead focusing on making sure Melbourne finish their season strongly in a year that has netted them just four wins so far.

“I don’t think we’ll be thinking too much about ruining Fremantle’s plans, but us winning would be a great thing,” Grimes said after touching down at Perth airport on Friday.

“We are not paying too much attention to what Fremantle want to achieve out of this game.

“This game can really set the tone for our pre-season.

“If you finish off the year well, it sets a positive mood going into the pre-season.

“And conversely, if you don’t finish off too well, it can add a bit of a sour note to the end of the season.

“It’s well documented our travelling record isn’t good, especially over here in Perth.

“It’s something we’re trying to address.”

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon scoffed at suggestions his team were viewing the game against Melbourne as merely a percentage booster, saying the Demons were a dangerous unit when on song.

“They beat Essendon earlier in the year. They’ve improved and they’ll come over with no burden of expectation and really have a free swing at it,” Lyon said.

“There are no easy games of AFL footy.

“Are we definitely winning the game on the weekend? Can you hand the four points to me?

“I understand all the scenarios (of where we can finish), but I can’t get involved in that. I have no interest in that.

“My expectation as senior coach is we compete exactly the same as we did against North Melbourne (last week).”

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, who is battling niggles in his achilles tendon, adductor and hamstring, will be given up until game day to prove his fitness, while 18-year-old midfielder Tom Sheridan will make his AFL debut in place of the injured Matt de Boer (ankle).

The Demons recalled ruckman Mark Jamar to help counter the influence of Aaron Sandilands.