Collingwood need to set Jordan De Goey up to fire throughout the 2025 season and not rush the injured dynamo for the sake of having him in opening round, says veteran Scott Pendlebury.
De Goey has enjoyed an impressive pre-season after heading to Doha for a training program in his off-season to rid himself of a debilitating groin issue that ruined his 2024.
But he has been sidelined recently after suffering bone bruising on the top of his fibula in a clash of knees at training.
"He's tracking well. He's obviously got a bit of a knock to the leg," Pendlebury said on Friday.
"So yeah, you don't want to take too many risks with him this time of year.
"So I think he's either run today or he's running on Monday, I'm pretty sure. So yeah, he won't be too far away."
De Goey told RSN on Thursday he expected to be fully fit again within a couple of weeks.
But Collingwood, who kick off their season away to GWS on March 9, appear unlikely to rush him.
The midfielder was limited to just 13 games and was rarely at his explosive best between groin and abdominal issues last year.
Pendlebury was adamant Collingwood won't allow a similar situation to unfold.
"Last year ... we got a lot of injuries sort of at the same time, so we've had a lot of guys with good continuity," he said.
"And we want to give Jordan the same opportunity, not rush him to the line just because it's round zero.
"If it takes a little bit longer, take our time with him and get him right, so when he's back, he's back for good.
"It was pretty brave last year to get out there with how his body was feeling like he could barely move throughout the weeks then he'd play on the weekend ... something had to give in the end.
"But he looks like he's in a better space at the moment with his body, and he was moving really well before he got that knock on his leg."
Pendlebury was confident prime mover Nick Daicos (foot) was fine.
The 37-year-old is entering his 20th season and has shaken off an elbow injury that affected him last year, along with a recent foot issue.
The Magpies are relishing an influx of recruits, headlined by Dan Houston, who will play off half-back alongside Josh Daicos.
"Dan Houston's just incredible, what he can do with the football," defender Isaac Quaynor said.
"His kick is one of the best I've seen.
"They're both just elite ball users who make the right decisions in every single time and yeah, they'll just continue to generate really strong offence for us, which we're gonna need."