With the two-time premiership ruckman struggling so far this season with a knee injury, Wood has been given two opportunities to stand up in the senior side.
Jolly will miss Friday night's clash with Geelong, and most likely, next Sunday's against Adelaide, which gives the 24-year-old at least another two chances to impress the selection panel.
After a strong pre-season, good form in the early rounds of the VFL and a solid game against the Western Bulldogs in round six, Wood has the belief he can make them think twice when Jolly puts his hand up once again.
"My time is now. Once Darren is back from injury, hopefully my form has been good enough to create a few headaches at match committee," he told afl.com.au this week.
"Darren is seen as the No.1 ruckman, and so he should be because he played every game last year, and then with Darren and Leigh [Brown] at the start of the season playing one and two roles, when I get the opportunity to come in like I have at the moment and play, I've just got to make the most of it."
Wood struggled in 2010, with his form taking a beating in the VFL and selection for the AFL side made all the more difficult with Jolly's arrival and Brown's revelation as a mobile ruck option.
"It was such a great year for the club but it was probably my worst year in the AFL system since I got drafted," he recalled.
"My form was pretty patchy as well so this year I've approached things a bit differently."
Then this season, he had to accept what the introduction of the substitute rule meant for players with his skills set, and what he'd have to do to become a viable selection option while in competition with Jolly and Brown.
"The first thing I thought was, with three on the bench, playing two specialist ruckman was probably going to be a thing of the past," he said.
"I've just got to really add another string to my bow in terms of being able to go forward and play up there and kick goals."
On Friday night, Wood will face off with the big Cat Brad Ottens, who didn't play in round nine last year but had the young Pie's measure after half time in the 2009 preliminary final.
He'll not only be playing against an experienced ruckman (and the player he idolised as a young Richmond supporter growing up), but he'll be confronted by a side that probably knows his game better than most, owing to the influence of his former teammate Chris Scott.
Wood spent three years with Scott, and two years with Brad Scott, current North Melbourne coach and former Collingwood assistant, at the Brisbane Lions before the brothers retired and he was traded to the Magpies at the end of 2007.
He said his relationship with Chris in particular could give Ottens an edge.
"In Chris' last year, he was coming back from injury and played a lot of the year in the reserves but was more of a mentor to the younger players, which I was at that time," he said.
"He probably knows my game as a ruckman better than other opposition coaches so he's got a bit of inside info to give Brad."
Wood said Scott was sure to have the Cats fired up for the blockbuster clash, given his passionate approach to all things football.
"I think he'd be pretty excited. He's not one to shy away from a contest when he was playing so he'd be definitely looking forward to heading into this with both teams undefeated," he said.
"He was a great competitor when he was playing so he's no different as a coach."
On Thursday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said he looked forward to seeing how his young charge would stand up as Jolly worked his way back from the knee complaint.
"Cameron's form when Jolly hasn't been part of the system this season has stood up, I think," he said.
"Figures are figures but I think he's stood up very, very well."
