COLLINGWOOD hopes utility Jordan De Goey will return to full training next week as he recovers from a broken rib.
De Goey was hurt at training more than a week ago and will miss the Magpies' first official trial match of the year against Hawthorn on Friday.
"Unfortunately he got a broken rib a week or two ago at training," Collingwood assistant coach Hayden Skipworth told reporters on Wednesday.
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"He has had a really good (training) block pre that and now it's really focusing on his conditioning and his footy stuff."
De Goey trained away from the main group on Wednesday.
"We put him through the paces today, another big (training session) on Friday and then hopefully he will be straight back in for the GWS game the week after," Skipworth said.
"If all goes well with his rehab ... that is the plan to get him back for that game.
"We have got a big one (training session) Friday, it will be non-contact and then next week will be building his contact progression throughout the week."
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De Goey returned to the Magpies a month ago, after being stood down for an incident at a New York bar on Halloween last year.
His return to the club came after he pleaded guilty to a harassment charge in a US court over the incident.
Veteran defender Jeremy Howe will also miss Friday's practice match after suffering a groin injury which Skipworth described as "minor".
Howe left the field during an intra-club game last Friday night.
"He ... probably could have played on but because it's a safety motto really at this time of year, we pulled him out," Skipworth said.
"He will miss this week and then we will reassess next week."
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Skipworth expected both De Goey and Howe to be available for Collingwood's premiership season-opener against St Kilda on March 18.
However, defender Jordan Roughead will miss the start of the premiership season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
"Watching him today, he's progressing really well," Skipworth said of Roughead.
"He is doing a lot of running, a lot of conditioning, building up his strength off-field, he is tracking really well - probably, by the look of him, a little bit ahead of schedule.
"But he has still got a fair way to go before he gets back and is playing in the senior team."