> Watch assistant coach Scott Watters speak to the media before Tuesday's closed sessionINJURED Collingwood duo Sharrod Wellingham and Simon Prestigiacomo have trained on Tuesday morning as they race against time to prove their fitness for this weekend's preliminary final clash with Geelong.
Wellingham injured his ankle in week one of the finals against St Kilda and looked slightly proppy as he moved through the drills, while Prestigiacomo has been in and out of the side all year.
Collingwood assistant coach Scott Watters expected both to be available for selection.
"They're both progressing really well, and we're really hopeful for both of them,” he said.
"I'm not a medical expert, but they're both progressing well on last reports, and we'd think they'll both be available for selection."
Watters admitted that neither player was likely to be fully fit if selected.
"At different stages of the year, players aren't always 100 per cent.
"They need to be fit enough to play, and as I said, both of them are progressing really nicely."
The Magpies have picked their side this season based on their next opponent, and Watters said the same criterion would apply this week.
"One of the great things this all year is, on any given week, 26 or 27 players will literally all get considered, and this week's no different,” he said.
"Tarkyn Lockyer, Tyson Goldsack, Paul Medhurst - they're all players whose names go up on the board, and they are seriously considered, and they are being considered for this week.
"I can't tell you what the 22 is going to be yet, but they're all in consideration.
"Every week we start with a blank canvas - there are some players who just pick themselves week by week, but you do start from scratch each week.
"We pick the best side possible, the side that we think can win, and we'll get to that 22 some time on Thursday."
