FREMANTLE skipper Matthew Pavlich will play against Port Adelaide in Saturday's all-important top-four decider at Patersons Stadium.

And Michael Barlow will be a surprise return from a thumb injury for the home side.

It's more good news for the purple haze, which will be without the services of key players Nat Fyfe and Luke McPharlin.  

Freo made two changes to the side that secured a dominant on-the-road win against the Brisbane Lions last week.

Garrick Ibbotson and Matt de Boer are the only outs for Freo.

See the teams as they'll line-up here.