Collingwood legend Peter Daicos believes the AFL minor premiers will lean on the side of caution with his injured son Nick, tipping the superstar will sit out week one of the finals.
A fractured right knee has kept Nick Daicos sidelined since round 21 and he is yet to officially be ruled in or out of the qualifying final against Melbourne on September 7.
The loser gets a second chance, meaning the Magpies can afford to take a conservative approach with the 20-year-old Brownlow Medal fancy.
"It's only a personal (view) but I don't think he will be playing," Peter Daicos told reporters at the TAB finals launch on Wednesday.
"Had it have been an elimination final then there's a lot more thinking going into rolling the dice with that.
"But there's a bigger scalp to be had here and we've got to have our players trying to get to the end of the season.
"Maybe with 'Fly' (coach Craig McRae) it's about keeping his spirits up and keeping him going, but he's doing the work and he's keen to get back."
If Collingwood beat Melbourne without Daicos, it would be almost seven weeks between matches if the young gun was to return to action in a preliminary final.
"I've got no problems with that," Peter Daicos said.
"One of his good attributes is his hard running and if that came off a little bit he's still going to be up there.
"You've got the interchange and how he's utilised ... one of the things the coaches have shown is the management and positioning of their team.
"I can't see that being a problem."
Peter Daicos said "I cringe at times" about the level of external expectation on Nick, who is just 45 games into his AFL career, but noted the silky-skilled midfielder uses it as "self-motivation".
Daicos is an equal-favourite for the Brownlow, with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, despite missing the last three home-and-away matches.
"I would've loved (his chances) more had he have played the last three weeks," Peter Daicos said.
"(When it comes to voting) everyone has their personal slant of who had an impact and who did well.
"You'd like to think he's up there, he's had a fine year, but who knows where the voting will end up."