MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld insists Jack Watts, James Frawley and Colin Sylvia are "required players" as the Demons prepare for a potential raid on their list. 

Recent reports have linked Watts to Fremantle and Frawley to Gold Coast while there's also been industry speculation about Colin Sylvia's future. 

"We'll do our best to sign those guys up," Neeld told reporters on Thursday morning.  

"They're certainly required players here and we'll do what we can to keep them here, absolutely.

"Those three guys, they're good players, and I can understand why all 18 list management groups would be discussing all players out of contract."

Watts is expected to return to the side from a hamstring injury to take on Fremantle on Sunday assuming he completes training on Thursday.