Publicly, Ross Lyon may be talking down his desire for some wet weather at ANZ Stadium on Saturday when Fremantle takes on Sydney.
But privately, he may well be looking towards the rain clouds for some assistance in Fremantle's qualifying final against the Swans.
And it's not the conditions of the ANZ Stadium surface that he needs help with – "not one iota."
"I know the AFL will provide a safe working environment for our players," Lyon said.
"I know it will be playable. Will the aesthetics be perfect? I don't know, it doesn't interest me."
But a bit of assistance from above might be needed as the Dockers contemplate facing a massive Sydney forward line probably without two of its key defenders.
Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Sam Reid are all big marking Sydney forwards who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. They can all take a big mark and are capable of kicking multiple goals.
Between them, however, the quartet averages only 6.3 goals a game against the Dockers – Buddy's worst goal average against all AFL opposition (2.3) is against Fremantle.
But without Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin, keeping them to that average looks a much tougher task.
Johnson has already been ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury and McPharlin has been classified as "unlikely" by Lyon – which we've learned doesn't mean he won't play after missing the past three games with a calf complaint.
Although, with the benefit of the double chance, Fremantle has the choice to hold the veteran back until the following week – or hopefully the week after that in a Preliminary final.
Alex Silvagni is certain to come into Saturday's side, while Lyon says that Tanner Smith, Anthony Morabito and the un-tried Alex Pearce could be called upon. Jack Hannath and Jon Griffiths were also mentioned.
But it's more likely that Lyon will opt to rob Peter to pay Paul, moving someone like Chris Mayne from attack into defence for this game. He's done that before during this season with some success.
With the rain tumbling down last week ahead of the Dockers must-win clash with Port Adelaide, Lyon pulled tall defender Silvagni out of the side before the game and bought pacy forward Hayden Crozier into the side.
It was a purely tactical decision, as Silvagni completed the tough running schedule after the game that is usually reserved for un-used emergencies.
The Swans have more marking power in attack than the Power though, so rain would give Lyon more options.
"We think we're a good wet weather team, but again, the filtering process has been very strong to this point," he said.
"The top four have played in all conditions, all over Australia and have come through that challenge so neither side will be worrying about wet, dry, windy - it wouldn't matter.
"The recruitment of Tippett and Franklin has been extraordinary for them. Then you couple that up with Reid and Goodes and their smalls and it's really quite powerful.
"Look, it's not the ideal scenario for us, but it's not something we're dwelling on. Our job is to plan and prepare and come up with solutions.
"There's lots of permutations"
It's not all doom and gloom for the Dockers though, who welcome back star midfielder Nat Fyfe from a two-week layoff due to suspension.
And there was a lot of upside about the performance of its forward line against the Power last weekend, with smalls Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters booting seven goals between them and Mayne, Matthew Pavlich and Matthew Taberner two apiece.
While Stephen Hill and David Mundy were kept relatively quiet, Lachie Neale also stepped in with 34 possessions, causing Port some headaches.
And while the Swans finished on top of the ladder "for a reason", Lyon said his side, no matter who takes to the field, is prepared for the challenge.
"They're a super team, Sydney. They are on top of the ladder for a reason. They have got all the boxes ticked, they are at home. It's a big challenge but one we're up for and one we're keen to accept, because we know our best football is good enough" he said.
"They are going to ask some serious questions and we're going to ask some serious questions of them. We believe over a long period of time we've conditioned ourselves to be an anywhere, anytime, against anyone team.
"That's what we believe and that's what we'll be aiming to deliver again."
