Collingwood star Jordan De Goey is currently battling illness, requiring the midfielder to train away from teammates just days out from Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against Port Adelaide.
Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed that De Goey would continue his match preparations "off-site", with the club hopeful of having the 27-year-old available for selection.
Illness and flu have taken their toll on Collingwood's squad over the course of the past two seasons, with De Goey even missing his side's Round 5 trip to South Australia for Gather Round due to illness.
The Pies ball-winner is again battling sickness prior to a much-anticipated contest at Adelaide Oval and won't be stopping by Olympic Park until cleared.
"The latest is it is viral, like all of our players, if they are sick you don't want them in the rooms," McRae told reporters on Thursday, viaย The Herald Sun.ย
"(Do Goey) will train off-site later today. We anticipate he will be in (on Friday) and travelling with us.
"The reality is for us and others in the competition is it happens but I think for us we have the cameras and the eyes on us like you guys have for our training session.
"I think every other club in the land has this, it is just not as publicised."
Collingwood will have ruckman Darcy Cameron and forward Brody Mihocek available for selection after the pair recovered from respective back and hamstring issues.
Their timely returns do present a selection conundrum, with McRae having the key-position pair available alongside ruck-forward Mason Cox, athletic spearhead Ash Johnson, recruit Dan McStay and swingman Billy Frampton.
Frampton could resume his more accustomed role in defence, however that move would create a backline as equally as tall as their own attacking formation.
Johnson was seen as the odd man out at the start of the season when the Magpies were dealing with a near-fully fit list, however the agile attacker has booted six goals in the last two weeks.
Port Adelaide could have a handful of reinforcements of their own for Round 19, with Charlie Dixonย (ankle),ย Jason Horne-Francis (back) Willie Rioli (personal) and Trent McKenzie (ankle) all potentially playing.
The Power will be without defender Darcy Byrne-Jones, who suffered a concussion in last week's loss to Carlton.
Port Adelaide will host Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night at 7:10pm local time, with Ken Hinkley's side needing to record a significant victory to snatch top spot on the ladder given their current percentage deficit against the Magpies.