Fremantle have backed in Sean Darcy to partner in-form star Luke Jackson in the ruck, with Mason Cox dropped for the blockbuster clash with Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

The Dockers only needed to name an extended team on Thursday but left Cox out of the 26-player squad completely in a bold selection move by coach Justin Longmuir.

Veteran midfielders Jaeger O’Meara and Corey Wagner, as well as first-year forward Chris Scerri were also named on the bench alongside Judd McVee, Isaiah Dudley, Matthew Johnson and Hayden Young, which will be reduced to 23 on Friday afternoon.

After edging out Cox, Darcy is likely to be called upon to impact as a forward and give Jackson a chop out in the ruck as the Dockers hunt redemption for their elimination final loss to the Suns last year.

Darcy is coming off three solid games in the WAFL, where he has been building form and fitness, after recovering from a calf injury. It will be the 28-year-old’s first AFL game since round five, where he suffered a concussion in the Gather Round clash with Collingwood.

He booted two goals for Peel Thunder while racking up 16 disposals and six marks last week to demand a recall.

In his absence, Jackson has been in stellar form. In last Thursday’s win over Geelong, he became just the second ruckman behind Max Gawn to have 25-plus disposals, more than 15 contested possessions and kick at least three goals in a game.

Earlier this week, Longmuir said it was a matter of when, not if, Darcy returned, while acknowledging the Dockers did not want to disrupt Jackson’s blistering form.

“We need to make sure we don’t play Jacko out of form, which I don’t think is going to happen, to make sure he’s right come the back end of the year when the really important stuff is played,” Longmuir said.

“We need to find a balance with that, and whether that’s with Sean or Mason on the side, we’ll strike that balance.”

Darcy’s selection will pose an interesting question about how much time he splits in the ruck with Jackson, against Gold Coast pair Ned Moyle and Jarrod Witts. Moyle was named in the ruck and Witts on the Suns’ extended bench.

The Suns will regain West Australian Wil Powell from a shoulder injury as a backline replacement for Daniel Rioli, who will miss weeks with a jaw injury. Ben Jepson has replaced the suspended Sam Clohesy.

They have also recalled tall defender Charlie Ballard, Dylan Patterson and Zak Evans.

Fremantle v Gold Coast

Sunday, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm

DOCKERS

B: B Cox A Pearce H Chapman

HB: J Clark L Ryan K Worner

C: N O’Driscoll A Brayshaw N Erasmus

HF: M Reid M Frederick S Switkowski

F: P Voss J Amiss J Treacy

FOLL: L Jackson C Serong S Bolton

I/C: H Young M Johnson I Dudley S Darcy J McVee J O’Meara C Wagner C Scerri

IN: S Darcy J O’Meara C Wagner C Scerri.

OUT: M Cox (omitted).

SUNS

B: M Andrew S Collins B Uwland

HB: J Jeffrey Z Uwland W Powell

C: J Noble B Addinsall J Murray

HF: B Humphrey T Miller C Petracca

F: B King B Long J Walter

FOLL: N Moyle N Anderson M Rowell

I/C: N Holman L Lombard C Ballard J Witts D Patterson Z Evans B Jepson O Adams.

IN: W Powell C Ballard D Patterson Z Evans B Jepson.

OUT: S Clohesy (suspension) D Rioli (injured)