Collingwood will be without key defender Jeremy Howe for Saturday's big AFL game against Port Adelaide as he struggles to overcome a nasty cork.
Howe has not played since suffering a badly-corked thigh and also being concussed during the Magpies' loss to Richmond in round 19.
The 28-year-old has overcome the concussion but is still struggling to move freely and could also miss next week's final-round clash with Fremantle.
"Jeremy had a procedure on Tuesday to drain his corkie," Collingwood football boss Geoff Walsh said.
"Mother Nature is not moving as quickly as we would like, so he has had that procedure. It will unfortunately put him out of action for this week."
The Mapies key-position stocks have been badly depleted with Darcy Moore recovering from a hamstring issue, Ben Reid suffering another calf tear and Lynden Dunn and Matt Scharenberg both out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.
Tyson Goldsack is battling back soreness and appears increasingly unlikely to return ahead of schedule from a ruptured ACL.
The Pies have ruled out Jamie Elliott for the rest of the season after he underwent hamstring surgery on Tuesday but Reid remains a slim chance to play in the finals.
Saturday's clash at the MCG could have big implications for both the fifth-placed Magpies and eighth-placed Power, who also have major injury concerns.
Spearhead Charlie Dixon will miss the rest of the season because of a broken leg and All Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder (hip) is expected to miss Saturday's game.
In Ryder's absence, the Power are expected to give 21-year-old debutant Billy Frampton a massive task in going up against Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy.
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