Collingwood recruit Billy Frampton will make his club debut for the Magpies this weekend when he lines up against his former side Port Adelaide.
The 201cm defender will get his chance in the black and white in the absence of injured high-flyer Jeremy Howe, who suffered a fractured forearm in Collingwood's Round 1 win over Geelong.
Frampton joined the Magpies from Adelaide in exchange for a future third-round selection for this year's National Draft, bringing with him 24 games of AFL experience following stints with the Power and Crows.
"We recruited Billy for a reason," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said.
"If you go back to our practice games, he played on (Harry) McKay against Carlton and 'Howie' and Brayden Maynard were our best players. He allowed those guys to play a different matchup.
"Then we played Hawthorn and he had a key matchup, and Darcy Moore was our best player. He's got that ability to take a big target or a big key forward away and allow others to get the work done.
"I'm excited to see him in the backline."
Collingwood are yet to learn the full extent of Howe's recovery timeline, with a more exact timeframe for the veteran's return likely to be known by early next week.
A lengthy layoff for the ex-Demon is likely to hand Frampton the opportunity to show his worth to McRae at senior level, having only managed more than six games in a single season once before.
An impressive Round 1 showing for young forward Reef McInnes late into the win over Geelong as the tactical sub might not be enough for the Magpies' Next Generation Academy graduate to get a starting role against Port Adelaide on Sunday, despite McRae's best efforts.
An all-round team performance has left the Collingwood coach with a helpful headache come selection for this week, with fringe forward Ash Johnson also popping up in the VFL over the weekend with four goals of his own.
McInnes looks likely to have done enough to stave off Johnson for another round, likely to retain his role as the sub at the MCG for the second week in a row.
His early season appearance comes a year after his campaign. was curtailed due to a shoulder reconstruction, with McRae crediting the 20-year-old's efforts since returning in the summer.
"It's just affirmation for his pre-season," McRae said of McInnes' two-goal performance from just 38 per cent time on ground in Round 1.
"We'd like to reward him more than just the sub. This week, who knows? He might be the sub again. Time will tell.
"He can come on and have an impact. It's amazing, his height is deceptive, he's a weapon. He can mark the ball and he's aggressive size, so it's a good start.
"He would have played a lot more (AFL) footy last year. He played well when he played with us and then unfortunately got injured. On a Sunday when everyone else is at home on the couch, he's in here working.
"He's that kid that you walk in and you go: 'this kid is going to get the best out of himself'. And we love that around our environment and he gets rewarded for that."
Collingwood will host Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday, with the match to commence at 1:45pm (AEDT).
