Collingwood will welcome back Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe for Friday's clash against Brisbane at the MCG, but vice-captain Brayden Maynard won't make his return.
Sidebottom missed last week's draw with Hawthorn with illness, while Howe has overcome an arm injury he sustained in the Round 21 loss to Geelong.
As for Maynard, he was tested at Wednesday's training session, but the club will hold him back ahead of a Wildcard Round clash the following weekend.
"He was a test today but didn't quite get through," McRae confirmed.
"He was close. Really close. But we'll make sure he gets himself right to play next week."
McRae anticipates veteran Scott Pendlebury will play this week, but stopped at confirming he will play.
The outcome of the Lions clash won't hold any bearing on Collingwood's ladder position. They'll either play the Western Bulldogs or Carlton in the Wildcard Round.
But McRae is also conscious of flirting with the club's form, whilst also continuing the "rhythm" of the side.
The Daicos brothers as well as Darcy Cameron and in-form forward Dan McStay have been floated as potential management options.
"We'll weigh everything up," the Pies coach said.
"There's a level of some players are really hungry to get some momentum and rhythm and keep it flowing. As a team, we'd like to do the same. We'll weigh all that up at match committee this afternoon.
"There's no perfect answer to it other than to say our players are hungry to perform really well. And our fans want that."
McRae also said youngster Jai Saxena still has plenty of work to do to earn an AFL debut, even after his five-goal performance in the VFL.
Saxena joined the Pies as a Category B Rookie last year via the club's next generation academy (NGA), and has impressed in his maiden campaign.
"Well there's a queue at the moment of guys playing good footy," McRae said.
"We've been seeing glimpses of it. He's got a long way to go the young lad. What you see on Saturday is one thing, but what you see Monday to Friday is a different part of professionalism. It's his first year, he's learning a lot about that.
"I think he's a fair way down in the queue to play based on Harvey Harrison and Hayesy but pleased with his growth."
