COLLINGWOOD has admitted it isn't quite sure when midfielder Brodie Holland will return from the achilles injury that has ruined his season so far.

Holland has managed to play just one senior game in 2008 following his recovery from the persistent heel complaint that ended his 2007 campaign in round 13 of that year.  

His only AFL appearance in this season came back in round five and he has only been able to manage a handful of VFL matches.

The tough midfielder has been listed as "one to two weeks" from resuming on the club's injury list, but sports science director David Buttifant conceded it could be more than that.

"We'd like to see him back in a few weeks, but it's one of those things where there's no guarantee," Buttifant told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"If he's back in two weeks, fantastic, but I think it might be a bit longer than that."

Buttifant said it has been a tiresome journey for the experienced ball-getter after he appeared to have finally shelved the complaint ahead of his round-five run in the firsts.

"He came back and he was playing seconds and playing quite well, and then he got a game in the seniors and had a bit of an episode with his achilles," he said.

"There was really no pathology to say there was a tear, but there was enough disruption there that it's caused a bit of aggravation to get him back.

"It's been a bit of trying journey for Brodie, and it's been very hard.

"The surgical procedure initially went really well and he was back playing and training, and then he had the further setback.

"It wasn't significant, but it just means he struggles to get up to top speed, which has been very frustrating for him."

Holland played three games in the VFL before the round-five clash with North Melbourne, and has not returned to either side since.