Collingwood expect their leading goalkicker Will Hoskin-Elliott to play in the must-win AFL clash with Port Adelaide.
He looked proppy towards the end of Thursday's training, but coach Nathan Buckley said Hoskin-Elliott is not in doubt for the big game on Saturday at the MCG.
"Bumps and bruises, they happen, but he should be right," Buckley said.
Collingwood can ill afford for Hoskin-Elliott to join their extensive injury list.
He has been outstanding this season, playing 20 games and leading the Magpies attack with 39 goals.
There has been more bad injury news this week, with Jamie Elliott needing season-ending hamstring surgery and Ben Reid suffering a calf injury while returning through the VFL.
But there are also some good signs with midfielder Adam Treloar continuing his recovery from hamstring surgery.
Treloar trained away from the main group on Thursday.
"Ads has knocked on the door a couple of times this week," Buckley said.
"I said 'mate, you've come to the wrong bloke - you still have to prove to the doctor first'.
"That time will come. He's not going to die wondering."
Defender Jeremy Howe could return in round 23 after successful leg surgery in the last few days while Collingwood have not given up on Reid this season.
Port have their own problems with key forward Charlie Dixon out for the season because of a leg fracture.
"Reidy was going to play on Charlie Dixon this weekend," Buckley said.
"I guess that says a little bit about expecting certain things to happen.
"We all have our best-laid plans and invariably you'd like to see some of them come to fruition."
Port desperately need a win to stay in the top eight after two tight losses while Collingwood are only a game ahead of them on the ladder.
"We're coming against a side who we know are fighting for their finals survival and we're only one game ahead of them," Buckley said.
"So in many ways, we're fighting for ours as well.
"We understand what the environment is going to be.
"It's a great opportunity for us, once more, to test our capacity to handle that expectation and to be able to handle the games that matter in a finals-like intensity."
