Fraser had been in contention for a recall for the Pies’ clash with the Brisbane Lions this Saturday night before injuring an ankle at training earlier this week.
That mishap will see him sidelined for up to a fortnight, leaving off-season recruit Darren Jolly and emerging big man Cameron Wood to carry the ruck duties.
But speaking from Melbourne Airport on Friday, O’Bree - who like Fraser was demoted to the VFL earlier this season - said he expected the 28-year-old to force his way back into the senior team.
“There’s a lot of rounds left in the season and Josh is definitely in our best 22,” O’Bree said.
“So I don’t think it’ll be that hard [for him] to get back in.”
O’Bree said Fraser’s mindset had been “fantastic” all year and described his latest injury - which comes on top of a knee problem earlier in the year - as a hiccup to his aspirations for a senior recall.
But the midfielder said everyone in the squad, including experienced campaigners Tarkyn Lockyer and Leigh Brown who are playing in the VFL, knew they had a role to play in 2010.
“We all know the team’s in a pretty good situation at the moment with the playing list,” he said.
Collingwood is aiming to rebound from its 36-pont loss to Geelong and O'Bree said the return of fellow veteran Simon Prestigiacomo would boost his side for the Gabba meeting.
Prestigiacomo, arguably the Pies' best defender, has been recalled to help Collingwood curb the influence of the Lions' two-pronged forward attack of Brendan Fevola and Jonathan Brown.
“Presti's a gun full-back so I'm rapt he's back in the team,” O'Bree said.
“He's got a pretty good record against Fevola so I would say that would be a stock-standard match-up there.”
Prestigiacomo was one of two changes coach Mick Malthouse made for the round 10 clash. Leon Davis and Nathan Brown were omitted.
Davis has had a disappointing season so far but O'Bree dismissed speculation that the small forward was dropped because of poor form.
“Leon's carrying an injury at the moment so it's probably better that he has a week or two off just to freshen up and get himself right,” O'Bree said.
Collingwood has the bonus of its VFL side play the Gold Coast in Queensland this weekend.
