Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito's focus shifts to 2014 Anthony Morabito (left) will shift his focus to returning for the start of the 2014 season. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library FREMANTLE will mothball luckless midfielder Anthony Morabito for the rest of the season. The club confirmed today that it had abandoned the idea of trying to get the 21-year-old back to competitive football this year, with the focus now shifting entirely to next year's pre-season campaign. Morabito, who has agreed to terms on a deal that will see him at the club until at least the end of next season, has been placed on a revised training program. "After discussions with Anthony and in conjunction with our medical staff and strength and conditioning staff, it was agreed that the best course of action was to amend our plan to have Anthony play a handful of WAFL games at what would have been the tail end of the 2013 season," football operations manager Chris Bond said. It was agreed that it was in the best long-term interests of Anthony and his playing career that we continue with a conservative approach for his return to AFL ranks. As a result, Anthony will have a short break before returning to the club and preparing for the 2014 pre-season. By taking this approach, we believe Anthony will be really well placed to hit the ground running on day one of the 2014 pre-season and be available for selection at the start of the 2014 AFL home and away season. Morabito has not played at AFL level since 2010 after undergoing three knee reconstructions. Meanwhile, competition for spots in Fremantle's best 22 is sure to heat up as the finals approach. The fourth-placed Dockers will start hot favourites against Melbourne (MCG), Port Adelaide (home) and St Kilda (ES) in the lead-in to the finals. If results fall their way, Fremantle could snare second spot and a home qualifying final - giving them a great launching pad in their bid to win their maiden flag. Although the opposition aren't expected to provide Fremantle with too many worries over the next three weeks, the internal battle for spots is a different story. With midfielder Stephen Hill and defender Garrick Ibbotson set to return for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG, two players will feel the chop this week unless the Dockers decide to rest anyone. Another two will fall once Clancee Pearce (calf) and Luke McPharlin (calf) return in the coming weeks. A month ago, emerging midfielder Lachie Neale would have been high on the list of players likely to make way. But after averaging 24 possessions a game and booting five goals over the past four rounds, the 20-year-old seems a safe bet to hold his spot ahead of the finals. Nick Suban was on the fringe of selection earlier this year, but is also safe after working tirelessly to establish himself as a key cog in Fremantle's set-up. However, the news isn't so bright for utility Alex Silvagni, who is likely to get the chop this week. Cameron Sutcliffe could also struggle to hold his spot despite playing 14 of 19 games this year - mostly as the sub. And second-year midfielder Tom Sheridan also faces a nervous wait, despite impressing coach Ross Lyon in recent weeks. Lyon said the intense competition for spots meant players couldn't afford to drop their intensity - even against weaker opposition. "You really need to bring the effort we're after to keep demanding your spot, because we've got four players out that have probably been entrenched in the team - Pearce, Ibbotson, McPharlin and Hill," Lyon told Perth radio station 6PR. And there's some more pressure coming up from (our WAFL-aligned club) Peel. So there's competition for spots. All-Australian defender McPharlin isn't due back until round 23, but Pearce could return next week. Lyon said goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, who experienced hamstring tightness in last week's 113-point win over GWS, should be fit to tackle Melbourne.