Collingwood defender Tyson Goldsack could resume playing football this weekend while Jeremy Howe and Brody Mihocek are likely inclusions for the Magpies in their AFL clash with Sydney on Saturday night.
Goldsack has made a speedy return from his knee reconstruction after he was injured in the AFL pre-season.
He is a chance to return through the VFL in Sunday's match against Box Hill.
Given the Magpies' appalling run of injuries including losing defenders Lynden Dunn and Matt Scharenberg to season-ending knee reconstructions, Goldsack would be a significant boost if he could prove his fitness ahead of the finals.
"As long as we get final boxes ticked at the end of the week from our medicos and specialists, we are looking for Tyson to resume in the VFL this week, which is great news," said Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh.
"It's a really quick recovery."
Scharenberg was hurt in Saturday's loss to Richmond, where Howe was also concussed and Mihocek suffered an ankle injury.
"So far, Howie's recovery looks like it's on track - he has come up pretty well and will have the normal screening tests later in the week to ensure there are no lingering effects," Walsh said.
"We're hopeful he will get clearance on that and we'll know that in the next 72 hours or so.
"Brody has progressed really well in the last 48 hours ... we would expect he will put his hand up for selection at the end of the week."
Jamie Elliott also re-injured a hamstring last weekend as he returns through the VFL.
"Neither us nor Jamie are saying the season is over here," Walsh said.
"We will certainly reassess and see what the next few days bring in terms of the medical advice."
There was a report on Tuesday that midfielder Chris Mayne missed training.
But Mayne was not mentioned in Collingwood's Tuesday medical report and they expect he will play against Sydney.
