Ex-Richmond star Bolton will make his official debut for the Dockers on Sunday after recovering from a leg injury.
And while Bolton's preparation for the AFL premiership season has been curtailed, Cox is bracing to face his brilliant best.
"Like any of their dangerous players, he's one we have got to be aware of," Cox told reporters in Perth on Saturday.
"The thing with Shai, we have seen in his time at Richmond what he can do on a football field.
"He's a phenomenal talent and a huge addition to their football club.
"So we need to make sure we're aware of what he does - whether he's ahead of the ball or comes up around the stoppage  ... he's very dangerous."
The Swans enter the fixture after consecutive home losses - a 20-point defeat to Hawthorn followed by a four-point loss to reigning premiers Brisbane - to open their season.
"We have played some pretty good footy just in patches against two good-quality opposition," Cox said.
"We want to make sure that we're building a brand of footy that we're playing consistently throughout the year.
"And we have shown throughout periods that we have done that - we just haven't done it long enough against the best teams, and Fremantle is another one of those."
The Dockers are seeking to rally after a 78-point hiding in Geelong a week ago, when coach Justin Longmuir labelled his team as not tough enough.
"Like any proud football organisation, they respond after a disappointing loss," Cox said.
"We expect them at their best, and what they do at their best is as good as anyone in the comp, so that is what we're preparing for."
Much attention will surround Sydney linchpin Chad Warner - the West Australian falls off-contract at season's end and is being heavily courted by Fremantle.
"We need Chad to play really good football for this football club in the short term and hopefully the long term as well," Cox said.
"I have constant chats with Chad all the way through, and one thing I can say is he's enjoying where the group is at, he loves his time at the footy club.
"It is a big decision, we all understand that. And he will make it like the mature young man that he is - time will tell."
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