WHILE Hawthorn will be without Jarryd Roughead for Sunday’s blockbuster against Fremantle, the Dockers have been dealt a blow of their own ahead of the clash.

All Australian key defender Luke McPharlin will miss the crucial game with a calf injury, an injury he sustained against Geelong last Saturday night.

McPharlin was subbed out of his side’s loss during the third quarter.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon confirmed the key defender will miss on Monday night.

"He's done a little bit of a calf," Lyon told Perth radio.

"It's not ideal, obviously, but it's nothing dramatic either.”

McPharlin is Fremantle’s best defender who takes the opposition’s best forward each week.

But, with the Hawks missing Roughead and likely to be without Jack Gunston too, the loss of McPharlin might not be as big a setback, with the Hawks yet to reveal their forward plans for this week.

It means the Dockers could be forced to bring in defender Alex Silvagni, who has played just four games this year.

In other Fremantle injury news, Nathan Fyfe has been cleared of any damage to his shoulder and is set to take his place against the Hawks.

Fyfe was suspended the last time the two teams met, when the Hawks beat Freo by 58 points at the MCG.

Forgotten small forward Michael Walters could also make his long-awaited return to the Fremantle team after making a successful comeback from injury in the WAFL on the weekend.

Walters picked up 19 disposals and kicked a goal in his return.

He hasn’t played since Round 3.

Walters was Fremantle’s leading goal kicking last year, establishing himself as one of the game’s best small forwards.