Rocca, who turns 32 this month, has played just three matches this season and 11 AFL matches in two years after battling ankle and achilles injuries.
But he returned to football on Sunday with Collingwood’s VFL side booting a goal and taking seven marks.
Malthouse said the power forward did all the things the club had asked him to do.
With the Pies on the verge of a top-four spot and a crack at a premiership, Malthouse said getting game time into his veteran would be crucial as he could be a key piece of the Magpies' puzzle come September.
“We’re very, very keen to get Anthony as many games as we can leading up to the finals,” Malthouse said on radio SEN on Monday.
“He’s got a massive heart, there’s nothing left over with Anthony Rocca, he just gives everything he possibly can.
“If he can get through these [VFL games] and not pull up sore … get through and also get his stamina up, which only comes from playing, then he’s going to be right in the mix.”
Malthouse said Rocca at his best was clearly in his side’s best 22 players.
“We’ve got four more games and the VFL is identical to us as far as number of games left,” he said.
“If he plays the four games that gives him five games. That’s not a bad lead-in [to finals].”
Rocca’s potential availability would give the Pies a wealth of attacking options, joining Travis Cloke and John Anthony among the Pies’ tall options in attack.
Malthouse said using those three tall options has been done before, while the likes of Chris Dawes and Nathan Brown added further flexibility.
“We’ve got a few selection problems, which are good ones though.”
