Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the club must be better at saving star midfielder Nick Daicos from himself after the gun Magpie ran himself into the ground in Opening Round against the Giants.
Pies fans' hearts sank when following an impressive first half on Sunday, Daicos was seen limping, stretching and seeking medical attention as tagger Toby Bedford got the better of him.
The Victorian club has allayed any fears that the 2025 Brownlow Medal fancy is carrying any lingering issues from his plantar fascia injury in the pre-season, but declared that he should be managed better.
Daicos was kept to a measly 21 touches at 62.5 per cent effectiveness, which is a dip from his regular efforts.
"He worked really hard in the game," McRae said.
"It's amazing to see a young man work as hard as he did. I know he cramped, which is such an anomaly for Nick, but when you look at his GSP in the first half, he was off the charts.
"I've never seen anyone run as hard for as long as he did in the first half. Look at the numbers... his high speed running is next level. No one in the competition would match that."
"So we've got to protect him from himself sometimes."
McRae also suggested that given the much earlier start to the season, the Pies will need to alter their training regime, saying it's like playing football in summer.
But he stopped at any suggestion that his players weren't fit enough.
"No fear (that we're not fit enough)," the 2023 premiership coach said.
"We've got to realise and accept that we're playing games earlier in the year than we ever have.
"Clearly, we weren't happy with how we played and handled the conditions.
"We're in a summer sport right now and it looks like it'll happen again on Saturday."
On an injury front, Nick's brother, Josh, was revealed to have rolled his ankle during Sunday's defeat and remains a test to face Port Adelaide, while veteran defender Jeremy Howe is more likely to suit up on Saturday.
"Similar," McRae said about Daicos.
"We're comfortable he got through but he's probably a test (for Saturday's clash).
"We're happy with Howey with where he got to.
"He ran really well. He only needed to do straight line running and he did a bit more than that.
"So we're bullish about Howey."
Star recruit Dan Houston is set to play his first game in the black and white after serving his suspension from late last year.
A watch will be on Pies key defender Billy Frampton who hobbled from the track with a potential ankle concern.
Frampton was overlooked in Opening Round for emerging youngster Reef McInnes in Collingwood's backline but would've come into consideration this week.
Jordan De Goey was seen doing extras after the bulk of the players left the track at the AIA Centre.
De Goey, who was pushing for selection this Saturday, has been given an extra week to get his body right, running alongside Finlay Macrae (shoulder), Oscar Steene (finger) and Iliro Smit (larynx).
