Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury has been deemed too great a risk to face Fremantle on Saturday despite being pain free in the leg he injured three weeks ago.

Pendlebury cracked his right tibia against Gold Coast in round 10 at the MCG and has missed two games.

Coach Nathan Buckley said it was just a matter of his vice-captain healing further before he was cleared to return.

"When you've got a commodity like that … the club's responsibility is to look after its individuals as well as it possibly can, and to make sure that we're dealing with each individual on a case by case basis," Buckley said on Tuesday at recovery.

"The circumstances are that we'd love 'Pendles' to be playing but he's not right to go, he's too much of a risk and he won't take to the field until we believe that it's time for him and time for us."

Veteran defender Chris Tarrant, who was a late withdrawal from Saturday's win over West Coast because of soreness, will need to prove his fitness at training on Wednesday to put his hand up to play this week.

Forward Alan Didak is in the same boat, but has pleased the Pies with his faster than expected recovery from the adductor he tore against Melbourne in round 11.

"'Dids' has progressed very well, probably a little bit better than expectation at this stage," Buckley said.

"I think he's pretty keen to get up this week but it will depend on how he moves around tomorrow."

Tarrant has played just two games this season; the first against Richmond in round two, where he injured his calf in the first quarter, and the second against Melbourne in round 11.

Buckley agreed it wasn't ideal the 31-year-old had missed so much football but emphasised he was considered an important cog in the team when fit.

"We'd prefer it to be a different way, and so would Taz," he said.

"The good thing is there's still plenty of time.

"I definitely see him in our best 22. If Chris Tarrant can get himself and his body fit and up and about, he'll clearly make us a better side than we are at the moment.

"That's the aim and that's the endeavour, and that's what Taz is working towards and so is the footy club."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs