COLLINGWOOD big man Mason Cox will look to further prove his fitness during the club's main training session on Thursday as he pushes to recover from hamstring tightness in time for Saturday's clash against North Melbourne at the MCG.
Cox joined a group of players who primarily have played in the VFL in recent weeks on the Olympic Park Oval track on Tuesday for a light one-hour session in windy conditions.
The tall forward, who was a late withdrawal from Sunday's game against West Coast after experiencing neural soreness in his hamstring, started the session with a series of end-to-end run throughs.
Cox then changed into footy boots and joined his teammates in a kicking drill, where he moved without too much bother.
However, there was no match practice or contact-based training and Thursday is set to be telling in determining his availability for the game with the Roos.
Jamie Elliott, Jarryd Blair, Alex Fasolo and Tyson Goldsack were among the other players out on the track on Tuesday afternoon.
Some running and light skills for Mason Cox (hamstring) at training today. Will look to prove his fitness for the game against the Roos on the track on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/oE4ju2EArx
— Ben Guthrie (@BenGuthrie_) July 17, 2018
Meanwhile, wingman Tom Phillips walked laps as the majority of the senior-listed players who played against West Coast trained indoors.
Elliott (hamstring), Blair (hamstring) and Fasolo (ankle) all took part in a VFL intraclub hit-out at training last Thursday with the Magpies' VFL team having a bye.
The trio will seek to return via the VFL in the coming weeks and be part of Collingwood's squad heading into September.
Goldsack was moving extremely well and even joined in some full contact training as he bids to return later this season from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the pre-season.