Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury will reportedly be managed by the Magpies, who are expected to make a late change for their Round 20 matchup with Richmond.
The decision comes as the Magpies also consider their six-day turnaround into a clash with fellow premiership contenders Brisbane, with Collingwood deciding to manage their most senior midfielder, per 9 News' Tom Morris.
The Magpies have already made three changes to the side that fell to Fremantle a week ago, with Tom Mitchell and Tim Membrey returning after being managed.
Recruit Dan Houston will return from an abdominal injury, with Oleg Markov and Mason Cox omitted, and Beau McCreery sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Neither Markov nor fellow emergency Roan Steele featured for Collingwood's VFL side on Saturday night against Frankston, with Markov expected to replace Pendlebury in Collingwood's 23-player squad.
The decision to rest Pendlebury and recall Markov could see Josh Daicos return to the midfield, with the premiership Magpie slotting into a defensive role again last week after a blistering finish in Round 18 against Gold Coast in the middle of the field.
Pendlebury's absence will open a spot at centre bounce, with coach Craig McRae now set to have both Markov and Houston in defence, potentially allowing Daicos to shift further up the field.
Collingwood will look to strike the right balance in their engine room, having both Mitchell and Ned Lonh on-ball, accompanying Nick Daicos, Steele Sidebottom and Jack Crisp through the middle.
Both Collingwood and Richmond will confirm their final sides an hour prior to Sunday's 2:10pm (AEST) bounce at the MCG.
