Collingwood sits seventh on the ladder with nine wins, but is one-and-a-half games behind the fourth placed Sydney Swans.
The Pies face Adelaide, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the next three weeks before a tough stretch to finish the season where it plays three of the current top four teams.
"Like most years it is about timing," Ball said. "It is about getting your squad fit and healthy at the right time of the year and we're trending that way. There is no guarantee, but we are trending in the right direction."
Collingwood looks almost certain to welcome back Dayne Beams for his first senior game for the season against Adelaide on Friday night. Ball said his return was much anticipated.
"That will be nice," Ball said. "He has been a little bit of a forgotten man. For him to have not have played [this year] has really hurt us."
Collingwood has not had Ball, Beams, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan in the same team since round three, 2012.
Ball said Dale Thomas was in a good frame of mind as he undergoes rehabilitation from an ankle injury. He said the return of Thomas before finals would be a huge bonus.
"He's still got a bit work to do, but he is in an incredibly positive frame of mind," Ball said. "He absolutely thinks he can get there and he has started running and that is half the battle... believing you can get back and play."
Ball, 29, who plays his 200th game on Friday night, said Collingwood's youngsters had been performing well, capitalising on the opportunity the club's long injury list had presented.
But he sounded like most pundits who think the Magpies' premiership chances depend on the return of their stars to full fitness and good form at the business end of the season.
"At the end of the day you do want your best players playing," Ball said.
