Reid no certainty
Ben Reid is no lock to return to the Collingwood side this week, with the key position player looking likely to line up for a second VFL game on Saturday.
The 25-year-old ran out for his first game since March on the weekend; the Magpies' VFL side's win over the Casey Scorpions on Saturday.
His season so far has been ruined by the calf injury he picked up in the Magpies' final practice match of the pre-season against Gold Coast.
While Reid kicked two goals in around 60 per cent of game time, it was a heavy ground with rain in the first half making conditions hard for talls.
He trained again with the VFL squad on Tuesday, with captain Scott Pendlebury admitting he wasn't sure what the next step for the 2011 All Australian defender was.
"I saw him out there (with the VFL squad) when I was leaving so I'm not too sure what his plan is," Pendlebury said on Tuesday.
"He did look pretty good on the weekend, so whether he comes back this week or not is up to 'Bucks' and the match committee to decide."
The Pies' VFL team faces Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.
Just where Reid lines up when he comes back will also be interesting to see.
Reid played forward in the pre-season alongside Travis Cloke after spending much of the second half of last season in attack.
With the Pies' young defenders surprising even Collingwood personnel with their resilience this year, it sounds as though there's plenty of scope for him to resume that role up forward.
"I'm not too sure (where he'll play). He's a swingman and he's obviously an All Australian defender and he can play forward as well," Pendlebury said.
"He can legitimately be that swing guy who plays forward one week and back the next.
"The (defenders) are doing really well. It's a young backline and guys like 'Frosty' (Jack Frost), 'Keeffey' (Lachie Keeffe), Tommy Langdon, Marley Williams...I think most of the guys in our backline are off the rookie list.
"They're doing really well and it's been a bit of a surprise for guys even inside the club to see how well we're doing."
Along with Reid, the Pies also have the likes of Nick Maxwell, Jesse White, Ben Sinclair and Steele Sidebottom to come back into the side.
However, Pendlebury says the improvement for the Pies isn't just going to come from the returning players and more so from across the group that's been taking to the field.
"We think there's a big scope for our side to improve and not just because we're going to get players back, but just the growth of individuals that have been exposed to the level for 12 rounds now," he said.
"Guys are getting more confidence and are starting to understand the game and what's required."