JORDAN De Goey won't be available for round one.
But a hamstring injury suffered at VFL training on Tuesday night, not a club-imposed suspension, is the reason as to why the Magpie won't be ready to play.
Scans to De Goey's hamstring have revealed a minor strain, which is expected to sideline the midfielder for between 2-4 weeks.
The 21-year-old has been training in the VFL program as part of his penalty for a recent drink-driving offence.
"It seems that the mechanics of a tackle Jordy laid late in Tuesday's session locked his leg and he slightly over-stretched," Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said.
In better news for Collingwood, Adam Treloar (soreness), Darcy Moore, Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Jeremy Howe (calf) will all be available for selection for the club's JLT Community Series clash against the Western Bulldogs in Moe.
Moore, Fasolo and Howe all played in a VFL intraclub game last Friday night.
There is a chance Jamie Elliott (ankle), James Aish (calf) and Daniel Wells (achilles) may play in a VFL practice match next week in a bid to prove their fitness for round one.
The Magpies' VFL side is due to play against Coburg next Friday night, before a clash with Box Hill on the same weekend that round one of the AFL season is due to begin.
"It is obviously every club’s plan to have as many of its players as possible well prepared and available for the start of the season," Walsh said.
"We’re in good shape in that regard. When you train hard for five or so months hiccups are inevitable but with round one now only a couple of weeks away something close to our strongest team is, or will be, available."
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said on Wednesday evening he had been predicting a "pretty early return" for De Goey from his club-imposed suspension.
McGuire also conceded the Pies couldn't afford to have a player of De Goey's quality on the sidelines for long if they wanted to contend.
De Goey will now be sidelined for up to a month with the hamstring injury.