Rocca has not played since round 13 last year when he broke his foot against the Western Bulldogs at Docklands.
Last week Rocca played 80 per cent of Collingwood’s VFL match, booting three goals in the team’s win.
Collingwood midfielder Shane O’Bree, who this week will play his 200th match for the Magpies after starting his career with the Lions, said Rocca was a certain starter and believes the forward will be able to have an impact on Friday night.
“I don’t think he’s had too limited a preparation,” O’Bree said.
“I reckon you can’t expect too much from Anthony, but because of his big frame all you can ask is just [for him to create] a contest and to have our small forwards read off his hands.”
O’Bree said that he has been impressed with Rocca’s work on the training track and believed he would come out fighting fit.
“He’s rehab work has been sensational, to get to where he is now,” O’Bree said.
“It’s the best I’ve seen him moving on the training track. So hopefully he puts it in and gets through unscathed.”
Also included in a 23-man travelling party to Brisbane is Anthony Corrie, Tyson Goldsack, Jaxson Barham and Alan Toovey.
O’Bree said potential debutant Barham, along with the other trio, were in the mix to replace injured defender Ben Johnson along with suspended pair Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw.
Collingwood flew out of Melbourne at midday and will train at the Gabba later today.
O’Bree said his team wasn’t worried about the prospect of a 1-3 win-loss ratio should it fail to overcome the Lions on Friday night but acknowledged the clash was a “huge game”.
“The morale [of the group] is really good. If you look over the first three games we could be three and zip, so there’s no need to get down in the dumps because we’re 1-2,” he said.
“I don’t think you feel the pressure. We’re not even thinking about it at the moment as a loss, but if you’re 1-3 at this stage of the year it’s not going to be a drama at all.”
