Jeremy Howe trained away from the main group on Thursday but the defender is still in contention to line up against Melbourne on Queen's Birthday at the MCG, says coach Nathan Buckley.

Issues with his left knee and a groin concern add to the injury woes at the Pies, with Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore, Alex Fasolo and Dane Swan among those unavailable.

"(Howe) was sore, there's no doubt," Buckley said before training.

"He's been pretty important for us in the last month in that defensive role."

Marley Williams racked up 26 disposals in the VFL last Saturday and looms as an option to come into the team.

He has played two straight VFL games, separated by a bye, since he missed five matches with a foot injury.

Howe wore strapping on his knee and had a very light session, largely spent jogging and walking.

Fellow backmen Ben Reid and Tom Langdon also completed run-throughs while Adams (hamstring) and Moore (fractured collarbone) were also on the track.

Demons ruckman Max Gawn is in career-best form and the Magpies coach flagged the possibility of bringing in Jarrod Witts to support Collingwood incumbent Brodie Grundy.

"(It's) something we've discussed," Buckley said.

"We think Brodie's been going pretty well in there, and we think he's a naturally combative ruckman, similar to Gawn.

"But Wittsy has been in really strong form at VFL level so we've got to work out whether we can deny him any longer."

Witts has only once played for the Magpies in 2016, against the Sydney Swans in round one.

Split webbing in his hand forced him to miss five games, with the 23-year-old biding his time in the reserves since then.

He collected 45 hit-outs and 17 disposals against Werribee in the VFL last Saturday.