COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly will not play in this weekend's clash with Adelaide and may have to wait at least one more week before returning from a knee injury.

Jolly has not played since the round five Anzac Day clash with Essendon and coach Mick Malthouse said the club was taking a conservative path with the 29-year-old.

"We're in a position where we don't have to panic and even if we weren't in the 6-1 position you've got to learn by the past. If he'd come up absolutely cherry ripe, we'd probably have waited another week anyway," Malthouse said on Thursday morning.

"We've got four weeks before our next bye and the reality is if he plays in that time it will be because he is 100 per cent of what you can be after coming back from an arthroscope. Particularly on a knee."

Malthouse said the club was taking into account a similar injury suffered by former ruckman Josh Fraser in the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute match (Victoria v Dream Team).

"A jumping player is still going to land on it and we found with Josh there was a readiness to go by way of medical, player and coaching staff," he said.

Malthouse said he didn't think Jolly would be out for another month as some reports have suggested but he could miss next week's match against West Coast.

"I'd be doubtful about that but I'm not going to start speculating four weeks out," he said.

"Certainly he won't play this week and I'd like to think he is as close to 100 per cent as you can be from that which would probably preclude him from the following week as well."

The news is better for captain Nick Maxwell and defender Ben Johnson who will return from injury to take on the Crows.

Maxwell (calf) and Johnson (back) missed last week's loss to Geelong through injury.

"I'd be very disappointed if they don't play this week," Malthouse said.

The Magpies have won their past three matches against the Crows, and six of their past eight, but Malthouse said there was no danger of taking Adelaide lightly.

"The players feel confident they can win but they also have the deepest respect for Adelaide. They rate Adelaide and they rate the way they play."