Dane Swan and Collingwood remain several weeks away from a decision on his AFL future.
Swan is making good progress in recovering from the gruesome foot injury in round one that needed surgery and ruined his season.
The star onballer, after seeing his surgeon last week, is weight-bearing more, even to the point where he has started some light running.
But coach Nathan Buckley said the 2011 Brownlow Medallist and the club were still in the dark about whether Swan can resume his stellar playing career.
"Over that next six weeks, we'll know a little bit more about where his foot has settled," Buckley said.
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"It's really no change - there are some answers we can't come to yet.
"It's really clear (that) we're really keen to see Swanny go around again and I think he's keen to go around again.
"But he doesn't want to do it at a whim and he doesn't want to do it if he doesn't think it's going to be something that is going to end well.
"So that's part of the discussion we'll have as we get further down the season.
Swan will also need another operation in October to remove some of what Buckley calls the surgical "structure" that is helping the foot heal.
Even in the unlikely event that Collingwood make the finals, the Magpies do not expect Swan will return this season.
"I wouldn't have thought there's any prospect of this year," Buckley said.
