Collingwood has a raft of players waiting in the wings to comeback from injury, but getting back for Saturday’s match with North at the MCG might be a bridge too far.

James Aish (knee), Jarryd Blair (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (hamstring) and Alex Fasolo (ankle) have all been listed as “available” on the club’s website, but with no VFL game last week due to a bye, their match conditioning will have been somewhat delayed.

“Though there’s no VFL game, we will have some full training simulation situations that those boys will be available to play in,” Magpies’ boss of football Geoff Walsh said last week. 

“They will all join in some full match simulation later in the week, so that is great news. Getting through that, which we expect them to do because their rehab has been pretty strong, from then on they will be available for selection, so that is really good news.”

Rupert Wills (hamstring) is also unlikely with another week required in rehab while Ben Reid (knee / calf) is listed at another fortnight at least.

“Ben had a scrape on both knees, which went really well. The prognosis is that within three or so weeks he will be up and going in terms of full training, so that is going to end up being a good result for Ben and for us.”