In-form Fremantle will join an elite group that only includes the AFL’s last three premiers if they beat Essendon at Optus Stadium on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to five matches.

The Dockers will enter the home game as overwhelming favourites on the back of wins over Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and North Melbourne. If they beat an injury ravaged Essendon team, they will become just the fourth team this season to win five games in a row.

The other clubs to achieve that run of victories are reigning premier Brisbane, the 2023 flag winners Collingwood and the club which raised the cup in 2022, Geelong.

Fremantle haven’t won five games in a row since 2022 but forward Pat Voss said one of the secrets to the club’s recent success has been ignoring previous weeks and not getting carried away.

“It’s great to be winning. We’re not necessarily talking about four in a row or what’s coming up. We’re talking about Essendon this weekend and how we can improve on last weekend,” he said.

“It probably sounds boring and everyone is saying it within the club but we are taking it a week at a time and not looking too far ahead and searching for 120 (minutes).”

Essendon will enter the game vastly less experienced than when the teams clashed at the MCG last season. They had eight players last week who were yet to play 20 matches and will add another debutant against the Dockers.

Vigo Visentini will come into the team to replace ruckman Todd Goldstein due to the five-day break.

Voss will be playing his first game against the Bombers since they de-listed him but said he still has close relationships with several players including Matt Guelfi, Ben Hobbs, Jye Caldwell and Archie Perkins.

Essendon have won only one of its last five matches, but Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir recently noted his team had struggled to produce its best footy against clubs that are lower than them on the ladder.

Voss said the players were determined to change that trend.

“It’s definitely something we are looking to do,” he said.

“No matter who we play, we want to jump into the game and the focus area is the first 10 minutes every week and our intent at the contest and our energy levels and pressure.

“It doesn’t change if we’re playing the top team or the bottom team. We want to jump into the game the same way every week.”