Collingwood is taking a cautious, "slow burn" approach to Jamie Elliott's recovery from a serious back ailment.

The livewire forward, who missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing surgery to correct a pars defect in his lower spine, is progressing to schedule but is being carefully managed ahead of his planned introduction to full training in the new year.

Elliott's fitness is viewed as important to the Pies' chances of ending their three-year finals drought, given the 24-year-old has kicked 104 goals in 72 games and won the club goalkicking award in 2015 with 35 majors – his third successive season of at least 30 goals.

"Jamie's going well. It's going to be a slow burn until Christmas time," the club's High Performance Manager Bill Davoren told Collingwood Media.

"We're looking at the sixth of January as his main, overall re-entry point, but (we're) very happy with where he's at.

"He's still going to be need to be watched closely. It was a serious injury and one that needs to be respected, so we'll certainly keep our guard up as we move to Christmas."

Davoren also revealed that young defenders Matt Scharenberg and Jackson Ramsay were on track in their recoveries from knee reconstructions.

"'Schaz' is virtually in full training," he said.

"Jackson's ahead of the curve (and) we'll have him integrating in and out of the group over the course of the next six weeks, but we're pretty confident (that) by post-Christmas, with no hiccups, he should be back in full load."

Skipper Scott Pendlebury has joined the club's first-to-fourth-year players on a week-long training camp in Falls Creek.