Collingwood speedster Jaidyn Stephenson hurt his left hand in a VFL practice match on Saturday but the Magpies insist it won't stop him from facing the Western Bulldogs in their lockout season-opener at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
The Pies also say co-vice-captain Taylor Adams is over a hip issue and will be passed fit for the big round one clash, but fellow midfield star Adam Treloar seems destined to be sidelined for at least another week as he recovers from a hamstring problem.
Third-year forward Stephenson was given a run in the VFL hitout against North Melbourne at Olympic Park to boost his form and match fitness after a pre-season campaign interrupted by a bout of glandular fever.
In a contest in which Kangaroos skipper Jack Ziebell got through a half after overcoming a calf injury, Stephenson was relatively quiet before leaving the field in the third quarter and seeking attention for his hand issue.
The 21-year-old was sent for medical scans, which failed to reveal any bone breaks.
"It's just bruising, so he's OK. He'll be available for selection, no problem," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh told AFL.com.au on Sunday.
Doubts lingered about Adams' fitness when he didn't train on Friday morning, walking laps instead as he dealt with what coach Nathan Buckley termed a "jarred hip" sustained in the Magpies' second Marsh Community Series fixture against St Kilda at Morwell.
However, Walsh revealed the tough onballer would also be "fine" for the season-opener.
This looms as a significant boost for the Pies given they will be forced to counter the Dogs' similarly star-studded midfield without the services of Treloar.
The pacy, prolific ball-winner suffered a minor injury to his left hamstring in the club's first Marsh Community Series clash with Richmond at Wangaratta, just 19 days before round one when the minimum mandatory return period is 21 days.
