COLLINGWOOD'S Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer are within a month of returning to the playing field after pre-season knee reconstructions.

Collingwood defender Ben Johnson recently told AFL.com.au the pair were aiming for a round 18 return in the VFL in a bid to push for senior selection late in the season.

Premiership backman Harry O'Brien added on Wednesday the two players were poised to start full training this week after months of running.

"He's actually been going really well, Andrew Krakouer," O’Brien told Perth radio 6PR.

"Himself and Brent Macaffer both did their knees within a week of each other in the pre-season. … and they're both well ahead of what we've expected.

"I know that’s a bit of a cliché for people who do their knees now-a-days … but I can tell you right now, they'll be playing within the next month.

"That's just amazing for both of those guys."

Macaffer ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on February 18 in the Pies' NAB Cup opener at Blacktown against the Western Bulldogs. 

Krakouer did his a week later while playing in a VFL practice match against Geelong, after an interrupted pre-season where he was granted leave to deal with personal issues.

The artificial graft 'LARS' surgery was not available to Krakouer because he also damaged his collateral ligament, and the traditional method was also chosen from Macaffer. 

O'Brien said Krakouer in particular could remarkably still play a key part in the Pies' push into finals.

"With the raw talent Andrew Krakouer has, the spark that he has, I can't see why he can't come into the side late in the season and make an impact in September," he said.

Johnson himself is aiming to resume in the VFL in round 20 and push for senior selection two weeks later after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction at the start of May.

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

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