Collingwood veteran Tom Mitchell has been confirmed to play his first game of football in over a year this weekend.
The Brownlow Medal winner will suit up for the Magpies' VFL unit on Saturday in what will be his first game in 380 days.
Mitchell's last game came on Anzac Day last year, with the midfielder subbed out of the contest due to a foot issue.
He would undergo surgery in June and face the rest of the season on the sidelines, while the most recent pre-season wasn't too kind to the 31-year-old, who suffered further setbacks in the summer.
The Magpies took a cautious approach ahead of Mitchell's 14th season, easing him into the campaign to make sure he'd be fit come the home stretch.
His first step back into action will come on Saturday against the Northern Bullants, with Mitchell to play limited minutes in the VFL.
Collingwood will look to increase the onballer's game time over the coming weeks in the hope of having him ready for AFL minutes in the near future.
Mitchell is expected to play a half this weekend at Cramer Street before three quarters the week after when the Magpies' reserves take on GWS at Victoria Park.
"Yeah, getting very close to playing again, it's been a long time coming," Mitchell told media earlier this week.
"I am excited just to play footy again, I'll worry about selection and those things in the weeks to come, I just want to get out there and play footy."
The Magpies are hoping to have forward Brody Mihocek back from an abdominal strain as early as next week, while Ash Johnson (leg), Dan McStay (knee) and Finlay Macrae (shoulder) are some time away.
