Johnson, who has been fighting a calf-related achilles problem, pulled up well from a fitness test on Monday.
Senior coach Rodney Eade said the 33-year-old was progressing well to a point where he should be considered for selection along with forward Mitch Hahn (cheekbone) and midfielder Callan Ward (groin).
"He's trained hard over the past few weeks and he trained hard yesterday," Eade said.
"A VFL practice match is an option for him as well as maybe another solid session replicating match fitness."
Nathan Eagleton will miss the match with a hamstring injury, while newly-elevated rookie Brodie Moles is in contention to make his debut.
The round-one match against the Pies shapes as an early indicator of the premiership credentials of both clubs, neither of which has been shy about stating their ambitions for the 2010 season.
Collingwood players have been consistent in their message that the premiership cup is in their sights, while the Bulldogs are the pundits' early-season favourite following their impressive NAB Cup campaign.
"I know we've had the better publicity recently, but over the past few years we've been just about parallel," Eade said of the two teams.
"We've both played in preliminary finals and whenever we've played Collingwood it's been tight. The two teams are very evenly matched and now they've got Darren Jolly and Luke Ball so they're going to improve again.
"We're under no illusions they are a very good footy team."
