COLLINGWOOD midfielder Brent Macaffer's will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome knee as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

The Magpies expect the operation to set his recovery back three to four weeks, but are hopeful the surgery will be minor.

Collingwood football manager Neil Balme told the club website that Macaffer had been struggling with his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in August last year.

"They will have an arthroscope to see how it goes," Balme said.

"We're certainly not expecting anything too serious, but it will certainly hold him back."

Macaffer, who reinvented himself as a tagger under Nathan Buckley, has twice undergone a knee reconstruction.

He suffered his most recent injury against Greater Western Sydney in round 22. While he hoped to be ready by round one, Collingwood maintained that a May return was more likely.

Macaffer was part of the Magpies' 2010 premiership team and has played 73 games for the club.

"[It's a] bit disappointing, but probably good news. We'll be able to get him back on track," Balme said.

Steele Sidebottom will have a fitness test later in the week to see if he is right to play after suffering a broken thumb in round one.

Father-son recruit Darcy Moore is also a chance to return to the VFL in two weeks as he recovers from a hamstring injury.