Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley liked what he saw from returning forward Jamie Elliott, who booted two goals in Monday's JLT Community Series win over Fremantle after missing all of last season with hamstring woes.
"There's still stages for him to travel, but we couldn't be more pleased with him getting the opportunity to get that work in," Buckley said.
Dayne Beams was also in fine form in his first game since returning from Brisbane, picking up 25 touches and kicking a goal.
"Some of the things he does with the ball are just class, and he just keeps hunting the pill," Buckley said.
"Taylor (Adams) is probably going to miss the first couple of rounds. You never know what availability you're going to have, so to add an extra damaging midfielder to the mix definitely thickens the soup.
"His ball-winning and his offence is not a question, his contested ball is not a question, (his) understanding how we defend is going along really well also."
Buckley said the Pies would pick their strongest available team to face Carlton next Monday in the final warm-up game, with Adam Treloar and Mason Cox among those set to return.
Boom youngster Jordan De Goey is a strong chance to be fit for round one against Geelong after returning to running from a foot problem.
"It will just depend on how he recovers and how much work we can get into him," Buckley said.