Collingwood will consider whether to rush back young defender Marley Williams after just three quarters of VFL football when match committee meets on Thursday.

Williams has not played senior football since round three but he put in a solid performance against Williamstown 10 days ago in his first game back since injuring his foot against St Kilda.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said last week that Williams, who has played 60 games for the Magpies, would ideally play more games in the VFL before being available.

"For him to get back up and about, it’s going to take longer than three quarters with the time that he had off, but we value what he brings to the side and we’ll give him every chance to get there," Buckley said.

However after Sunday's carnage that left Darcy Moore, Taylor Adams and Alex Fasolo all ruled out of round 11 through injury and Alan Toovey in doubt with concussion, the Magpies' selectors will have to make at least three changes and four if the premiership defender is ruled out.

With the Magpies needing to find a couple of defenders and a couple of forwards, Ben Sinclair looks likely to return after missing two games through concussion while defender Jonathan Marsh has built a good block of form in the VFL and could also be in line for his first game for the season.

Buckley refused to guarantee demoted key forward Travis Cloke a spot in the senior team although he appears a logical replacement for Moore, who had surgery on his collarbone on Monday.



Buckley told Fox Footy it would be folly to discuss selection before match committee met.

"If he's part of the best, hardest, fittest 22 (and) ready to come up against the side this week, he'll be in the side," Buckley said.

Ruckman Jarrod Witts will also be considered after being an emergency for the past two weeks.

He showed good form for Collingwood's VFL team against Williamstown with 24 touches and eight clearances before last week's bye.

Witts has played three games since he split the webbing in his finger when he played in round one against the Sydney Swans but he would appear more likely to replace Mason Cox than Darcy Moore if Collingwood decided the big American needed a rest.

Tom Phillips was the emergency for the Carlton and Brisbane Lions games and would appear next in line if the Magpies want a fresh face, while the Magpies may want to give James Aish the chance to hit consistent top form in the VFL before he returns to the seniors.

Nathan Brown is available for selection but has not played for a month since injuring his hamstring in the VFL when dropped from the senior team after round six, while Brent Macaffer, who became a father a fortnight ago, has been out of the senior team since round two.