NAT FYFE has been left out of Fremantle's first NAB Challenge clash with Melbourne on Thursday, but he is almost fully recovered from his minor hamstring strain.

The 2014 AFL Players' Association MVP trained strongly at Fremantle Oval on Tuesday morning. He participated in the drills with the main squad during the first hour of a two-hour session before being withdrawn to do some running and goalkicking practice.

Full squads: Fremantle v Melbourne

Coach Ross Lyon said last week that Fyfe's participation in the NAB Challenge was far less important than ensuring he was fully fit for round one, although all indications suggest the midfielder will be fit to play at least one pre-season fixture against either the Sydney Swans on March 15 or West Coast on March 22.  

Aaron Sandilands, Danyle Pearce and Garrick Ibbotson were also left out of Fremantle's 29-man squad for Thursday's clash. All three did not train with the main squad on Tuesday, instead participating in some conditioning work with youngsters Ed Langdon, Alex Pearce and Sean Hurley.

Fremantle named only one first-year player in its squad. Exciting midfielder Connor Blakely has impressed throughout the pre-season after being recruited with pick No.34 in last year's NAB AFL draft. The 19-year-old will make his debut for the club on Thursday if he is named in the final squad.

Anthony Morabito also trained in the early part of Tuesday's session, completing some running before heading back indoors as he continues to work through his ongoing knee troubles.

Key defender Zac Dawson was the only absentee from training on Tuesday as he continues to recover from some groin issues.

Dawson, who only appeared on the track right at the end of the session, signed a two-year contract extension on Monday but remains unlikely to be fit for the Dockers round one clash with Port Adelaide on April 5.

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