Collingwood will manage veteran defender Jeremy Howe for Saturday's crunch clash against Carlton at the MCG.
Howe pulled up lame after last week's win over North Melbourne with a groin injury and was always in doubt to face the Blues.
"He should be available with a five-day break coming (against Adelaide)," Pies coach Craig McRae said.
"We could arguably push him to the line. But there'd be risk of further injury.
“It's nothing particular, really; it's a bit of wear and tear for a guy that's in his 16th season, I think it is."
Premiership defender Isaac Quaynor makes his way back to the senior side after missing the past fortnight with an ankle injury, as does Harvey Harrison, who was managed last week.
McRae will recall young key forward Charlie West for his third game of the season after strong form in the VFL, helping fill the forward line void left by the injured Lachie Schultz.
West has been a focal point of the club's VFL forward line for the majority of the season, and has gone goalless on one occasion.
“Charlie is going to play, it's a good pick-up, he's going to come into our team and provide, again, another guy with youthful energy,” McRae said.
“He's a great one-on-one mark, and we think that's going to be something we think we need this week.”
McRae was also quizzed on reports Scott Pendlebury has three options in front of him: retire, play for Collingwood next year or a rival.
"Pendles was walking off the track, and I asked him the question," he said.
"Pendles said it's not the truth. In regard to the three options, retiring, coaching or playing and coaching, I think he's got those options for the rest of his life.
"In my words, that decision is his whenever he wants to make that."
