Scans on Saturday morning have revealed Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell sustained a fractured thumb during Friday night's win over St Kilda.

Maxwell is set to miss 3-4 weeks.

The incident occurred during the final quarter of the round 21 encounter at Etihad Stadium.

The 28-year-old has played 16 matches in 2011, including the past 12 straight, after missing the opening two rounds with a kidney injury sustained during the NAB Cup.

He has now played 156 career matches after originally being drafted as a rookie-list player in 2002.

Collingwood's final three home-and-away opponents are Brisbane (MCG), Fremantle (Paterson's Stadium) and Geelong (MCG).