COLLINGWOOD hopes star midfielder Scott Pendlebury will be back within a month as it enters a block of games that look set to shape their 2009 season.

Pendlebury strained the medial ligament in his left knee in the opening minutes of Saturday night’s win over the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium and failed to return to the field.

When the classy left-footer clutched at his leg it raised fears he might have suffered a far more serious injury, however Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said the club was optimistic Pendlebury wouldn’t be out of action for too long.

“We think it’s something that might keep him out for anywhere between one match and four matches … he’s pulled up OK in the context of it,” Walsh told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“Certainly he’s strained his medial. To what extent … we’ll judge that symptomatically over the next seven to 10 days.

“We wouldn’t expect him to play this week obviously, but from anywhere there to the next month will depend on what happens in the next seven days as to how well he responds.”

Collingwood moved to fourth on the AFL ladder with Saturday night’s gutsy win over the Swans.

The Pies’ next four weeks may well be season shaping – and could determine their top-four chances – with matches against Fremantle (MCG), Essendon (MCG), the Western Bulldogs (Docklands) and Hawthorn (MCG).

After almost two months out, Paul Medhurst (ankle) is on the verge of resuming senior football, John Anthony (hip) is likely to be fit this weekend, while Nathan Brown – a late withdrawal on Saturday with a knee injury – is also in the mix to take on Fremantle on Saturday.

“Browny was close, he just pulled up a bit sore after the training session on Friday,” Walsh said.

“He’ll certainly be available [to play Fremantle].”

Young forward Brent Macaffer, who injured a knee in the VFL more than a week ago, will be forced to spend some time on the sidelines.

The news could be far worse for Macaffer after he suffered a partial tear to an anterior cruciate ligament, but the Pies are confident he won’t need an operation.

“I would think Brent will certainly miss another two weeks,” Walsh said.

“It’s something that’s responding pretty well to treatment. There’s a couple of guys sort of playing in the AFL with partial tears now, [Western Bulldogs Daniel] Giansiracusa being one that springs to mind.

“So it’s just a matter of him regaining the stability and getting the swelling down and then we’ll go from there.”