Fremantle Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe faces crucial fitness test as he pushes for surprise western derby return

Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe’s Western Derby fate will be decided on Thursday with the former skipper revealing he’s been battling a foot injury for months as he tries to take on a new role up forward.

Fyfe, 30, missed the shock loss one point to North Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Saturday because of a flare-up of his plantar fasciitis.

The dual Brownlow medallist said he’d been dealing with the debilitating foot injury for about three months and he would manage it for some time to come.

“I’ll try and get through main training and that’ll really give us an idea whether I’ll be available for selection,” Fyfe told 7News.

“I’ve been dealing with him for about three months, and every now and then it just spikes in how much it inhibits you.

“I gotta get through most of training and be in a place physically and mentally where I feel like I’ll be able to contribute really well. Positively the rest of my body is tracking really nicely on my build back to full fitness.”

It comes as Fyfe backed himself to continue to play forward despite going goalless in their round one loss to St Kilda.

The two-time Brownlow medallist said a few “fluke” goals in the pre-season increased the hype around his potential to be a star goalkicker, but he was willing to do the work in the long term to settle into the role.

“It was tough initiation, but (I) probably knew that was gonna happen,” Fyfe said.

“I kicked a couple of fluke goals in the pre-season and maybe got the expectations and hype up a little bit more than as realistic.

“Playing as a full-time forward is going to take a lot of time to figure out how to do it consistently and my performances are going to be up and down for a number of weeks.

“The team didn’t perform as well as they would’ve liked and neither did I (in round one) and we’ve got to be patient and continue to put the work in as we get our season going and as I start to figure out this role as a forward”

Fyfe also played down any hunger to return to the midfield where he has been dominant for most of his career.

“I’m fully focused on playing as a forward and working with (forwards coach) Jaymie Graham and JL (Justin Longmuir) and adding layers to my game as I figure out the forward craft, but I’ve got to go back to day one,” Fyfe said.

“And there’s going to be a lot of criticism come my way and that’s fine, but I’ve got to have the courage to see through that and at some point I’ll hopefully be able to play some stoppage work but at this stage I’m keen on playing as a forward.”