Injury updates have been provided for superstar Collingwood pair Nick Daicos and Darcy Moore as the Pies were put through their paces during a training session, with a midfielder exiting the track early due to an apparent leg ailment.
Daicos, who hasn't played since Collingwood's Round 21 loss to Hawthorn due to a knee ailment, narrowly missed out on selection for the Magpies' qualifying final against Melbourne last Thursday.
However, according to assistant coach Hayden Skipworth, who addressed the media at Collingwood training on a sunny Friday afternoon, the father-son gun has "ticked all the boxes" in his quest to return to Craig McRae's side for the black and white's September flag tilt, and will participate in match simulation as part of his re-integration.
"We planned [for him] to do half of it (match simulation), I'm not sure if it's the first or second block, but he's raring to go and hopefully he gets through," Skipworth explained.
"He's been good, he's been driving the coaches mad at the moment, he's in our office every day.
"He's done everything he can (to put himself in position to play), he's ticked all the boxes, he would've played this week [in a semi-final] if we needed him, but obviously having a much-needed week off is going to be beneficial for him."
As for skipper Moore, whose wrist tendon situation has raised the eyebrows of the Magpies faithful in recent days, Skipworth claimed he 'managed' the concern against Melbourne last week and will be 'fine to go' for next weekend's preliminary final.
"He managed it [through] the last game (against the Dees), so like you said, the extra week off is going to be crucial," Skipworth said.
"I think we put him in a splint for a couple of days just to really let [it] settle down, he's fine to go (next week)."
In not-so-positive news on the injury front, however, veteran midfielder Taylor Adams departed Friday's session early after picking up a suspected thigh issue.
Adams left the track during matchplay and was not sighted again, with his status for next weekend's preliminary final now a close watch.
The 29-year-old isn't a stranger to injuries during the finals, having fallen victim to a nasty groin injury during last year's qualifying final against Geelong.
The Magpies will be hoping this latest hiccup isn't anywhere near as serious.
Collingwood will host a preliminary final at the MCG next weekend against one of Port Adelaide and GWS, who are preparing to do battle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
