Key defenders Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson absent at Fremantle Dockers training Matthew Pavlich leads the way at Fremantle training this morning, where Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson were unsighted. Matthew Pavlich and Ryan Crowley lead the team out onto Fremantle Oval. GRAND final-bound Fremantle threw a shroud of secrecy around the fitness star defenders Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson when they failed to train in the Dockers' only public appearance before heading for Melbourne. It had been expected that the reliable duo would all but confirm that they are fit and set to play in their first premiership showdown against favourites Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday. Another top backline weapon in Zac Dawson was also a no-show, along with superstar ruck force Aaron Sandilands and tigerish forward specialist Chris Mayne. Mayne reason for Freo's success Dawson and Sandilands, 30, made brief appearances onto the track late into the brisk 40-minute session. Sandilands was clad in a tracksuit top against the strong south-westerly wind and wearing jogging shoes. They late arrivals only had some light kicking with support staff. Fremantle coach Ross Lyon knows the Dockers are in "unchartered waters" but he remains confident his team is up for the challenge. Versatile utility Tendai Mzungu was restricted to light duties, running laps around Fremantle Oval in periods of drizzling rain at their traditional portside home ground. Despite injury scares in the Dockers camp, they are still widely expected to go into their first ever title showdown with an unchanged line-up after brushing aside the reigning premiers Sydney in Perth on Saturday. Hawks, Dockers selection headaches McPharlin and Johnson have both had constant treatment on calf strains since finishing the Dockers' historic and defensively clinical preliminary final victory over the Swans. McPharlin, 31, also carried some tightness high in his right leg and groin through the Swans victory. The general of Fremantle's water-tight defensive machine shapes as potentially the Dockers' most critical backman after conceding just five goals to opposition forwards through his 14 games so far this season. The dashing big man missed the last two months of the home-and-away season with his serious calf problem and returned for Fremantle's stirring first final victory against the odds over Geelong. Johnson, 28, missed that clash when he was a shock withdrawal with his calf worries. Sam Mitchell has no problems being tagged by Fremantle's Ryan Crowley in Saturday's AFL Grand Final. The important key backmen got through a light training session in Fremantle today in the Dockers' only public workout before heading to Melbourne on a charter flight on Thursday afternoon. A sea of purple from an adoring crowd of around 5000 cheered their Dockers heroes as went through their paces, with Fremantle's main training session to be held behind closed doors on Thursday before their departure. McPharlin and Johnson are likely to have assignments on potential match-winning star Hawks forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.