Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says he's still unsure whether Jordan De Goey will be fit to return for the club's round-one blockbuster against Geelong on March 22.
De Goey suffered a mid-foot sprain less than three weeks ago, but returned to training last week in a bid to prove his fitness for the start of the season.
The 22-year-old will definitely miss next Monday's pre-season clash with Carlton, but Buckley has left the door open for De Goey to feature in round one.
De Goey is confident he'll make it, but Buckley wants to see more from the star forward over the coming weeks.
"He straight-line ran three or four days ago," Buckley said.
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"I didn't see the Saturday session, we were over here (in Perth) watching West Coast and Geelong.
"The reports are he stepped up his running. It will just depend on how he recovers, and how much work we can get into him.
"If we think he helps our mix and he's right to play, he'll play."
De Goey has missed the season opener in each of the past two seasons because of club-imposed suspensions.
His potential inclusion for round one would be a massive boost for Collingwood, who will be without Taylor Adams (finger) for the first two rounds.
Buckley was pleased with his side's 27-point pre-season win over Fremantle on Monday.
Forward Jamie Elliott, who missed all of last season through injury, was lively with two goals.
And former Lion Dayne Beams slotted seamlessly back into the Collingwood line-up, tallying 25 disposals and booting a goal.
"He was good. Some of the things he does for the ball is class," Buckley said of Beams.
"He just keeps hunting the pill.
"Taylor (Adams) is probably going to miss the first couple of rounds. So to add an extra damaging midfielder (like Beams) to the mix definitely thickens the soup."
Buckley is keen to unleash a near full-strength squad against Carlton in their last practice match, meaning the likes of Jeremy Howe, Mason Cox, Tyson Goldsack, Adam Treloar, Brayden Maynar, and Will Hoskin-Elliott are all a chance to return.
Daniel Wells is still unavailable while he builds up to full fitness from a foot injury.
