Injured Pies receive good news
Collingwood is confident that six of its injured senior players will be available for selection in Saturday night's Elimination Final against Port Adelaide.
Luke Ball (calf tightness) and Harry O’Brien (flu) are available to play after overcoming their respective ailments and four others will be tested ahead of Saturday’s game.
Nathan Brown (jarred knee) and Quinten Lynch (ankle) will be tested later this week after sustaining injuries in the round 23 loss to North Melbourne.
View Collingwood’s full injury list here.
Little men Jamie Elliott (hamstring) and Ben Sinclair (shoulder) will also be subjected to fitness tests before proving their fitness after a fortnight on the sidelines.
Director of Football Rodney Eade told collingwoodfc.com.au that the club is confident all four will be available for selection on Thursday night.
"Everyone who played against North Melbourne has pulled up really well," Eade said.
"The proof will come when they head out on the track but we're confident that all players will be able to get up and play on Saturday.
"It puts us in a situation that we haven't been in for some time where we have four ruckmen to choose from, a full complement of small forwards and defenders and Luke Ball's availability helps top off our midfield stocks nicely."
Only four players with senior experience are currently unavailable for selection.
A line was drawn through Alex Fasolo (foot) and Alan Toovey’s (knee) seasons early in the year while ankle victims Marty Clarke and Dale Thomas had their fates confirmed last month.
View Collingwood’s full injury list here.