COLLINGWOOD star Jeremy Howe will play in the AFL Grand Final despite hurting his left ankle in the preliminary final win over Richmond on Friday night.

Howe left the field late in the third term after twisting the ankle while being tackled from behind by Tigers forward Daniel Rioli.

The Magpie Army held its collective breath as the brilliant defender was taken down into the rooms for treatment, but he returned late in the contest to provide some stability as the Tigers fought back.

The club confirmed that on Saturday morning Howe underwent precautionary scans that cleared him of damage.

The news comes as a great relief for the Magpies, who will enter their first Grand Final in seven years against the winner of the preliminary final between West Coast and Melbourne in Perth.

Before being injured, the spring-heeled intercept specialist had been magnificent, keeping Richmond superstar Dustin Martin under control when he went forward. Martin was held scoreless for just the second time in two seasons.

Earlier, Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury expressed his belief that Howe would be fit for the Grand Final.

"I've seen him in (the club) today – he seems all right," Pendlebury told reporters.

"Prelims are pretty brutal games of football and everyone cops a knock, but he came back on and played an important role in those last 10 minutes."

One of many Pies to be playing his first finals series, Howe missed the final four rounds with a badly corked thigh that required surgery, but the 28-year-old leadership group member has been one of the keys to the Magpies' inexperienced defence in September.