THE MAGPIES could get up to four players back for Friday night's clash with the injury-depleted Fremantle, with Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer considered near certainties to make the trip west.

Davis missed Saturday night's 18-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG with leg soreness, while Krakouer was a late withdrawal with quad tightness.   

Sharrod Wellingham, who injured his groin against St Kilda in round 21, faces a fitness test this week while Chris Dawes, who hasn't played since round 15 because of a broken knuckle, remains a chance to play.

Defender Ben Reid has also put his hand up after taking a hard knock against the Lions and being subbed out of the game in the third quarter.

He told collingwoodfc.com.au on Tuesday he was available to face Fremantle.

"I went up in a marking contest and fell flat on my back," the 22-year-old said.

"I was assessed by the doctors in the rooms and they thought it would be best if I didn't return.

"I have pulled up pretty good and the soreness in my back has gone so I will be fine for the Fremantle trip."

Meanwhile, coach Mick Malthouse has revealed more in-depth details of the upcoming training program for the players coming back from injury, and for defender Heath Shaw, who has returned from Arizona ahead of the final two weeks of his eight-game suspension.

With the Magpies' VFL season over given their round 22 bye and fact they didn't make the finals, the club's coaching staff will turn to simulated match practice at Gosch's Paddock over the next few weeks in a bid to get the players' fitness up.

"We propose to have in-house practice matches which a lot of clubs would be doing this time of year, that are out of the [VFL] finals," he told the club's website.

"We hope to get some good time into players such as Heath Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham, Chris Dawes and Nick Maxwell. 

"When they are all available to come back we will throw them through the practice matches."

Malthouse said while nothing could replicate the intensity that came from real matches, it would still give the coaches an idea of where the players were in their physical recovery.

"They are still bashing bodies, still having to take marks under pressure, and run and kick and so forth," he said.

He also praised the VFL side for producing five first-gamers this season despite failing to make the finals.

Jennifer Witham covers Collingwood news for the AFL Website. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.