Injured Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe aiming to prove fitness for Power clash

COLLINGWOOD defender Jeremy Howe will attempt to prove his fitness at training this week to take on Port Adelaide as gun midfielder Adam Treloar continues to race against the clock.

COLLINGWOOD defender Jeremy Howe will attempt to prove his fitness at training this week to take on Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.

The gun defender missed the win over Brisbane on Saturday night with a corked leg, but wants to make his return against the injury-hit Power.

BAROMETER: EVERY CLUB’S INJURY LIST

THE TACKLE: ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES FROM ROUND 21

SUPERLADDER: WHERE YOUR CLUB SITS AFTER ROUND 21

RUN HOME: CAN YOUR TEAM STILL MAKE FINALS?

Jeremy Howe could boost the Pies by returning this week. Picture: AAP

The news isn’t as good for injured Pie Jamie Elliott. Picture: AAP

A win over Ken Hinkley’s men would lock-in Collingwood’s first finals appearance in five years, validating the significant changes made as part of a searing club review last year.

The Magpies also remain a chance to secure a golden double chance with back-to-back wins over Port Adelaide and Fremantle, in Perth, over the final two rounds.

Port Adelaide will be without spearhead Charlie Dixon (ankle), and most likely ace ruckman Paddy Ryder, who reinsured his hip flexor in the loss to West Coast on Saturday night.

The Ryder blow has put the Power’s back-up big man Billy Frampton in the mix to make his AFL debut against the Pies’ star ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Collingwood has also dealt with a disastrous injury list which would ease slightly if Howe can complete main training on Thursday.

His return would provide Collingwood’s decimated back line with an enormous boost after losing veteran full back Lynden Dunn and Matthew Scharenberg to knee reconstructions.

Backman Flynn Appleby and Tyson Goldsack will also attempt to return in the VFL this weekend.

Clever goal kicker Jamie Elliott has been ruled out for the rest of the season after another hamstring setback, and is weighing up his future.

The Magpies’ two-time leading goal kicker is out-of-contract at season’s end, and despite missing the whole season with several injuries, is believed to have attracted interest from rival clubs.

Collingwood is trying to secure the signatures of out-of-contract trio Elliott, Darcy Moore and Alex Fasolo as the club sweats on an answer form departing Gold Coast spearhead Tom Lynch.

Fasolo is still weighing up interest from Carlton amid a strong belief the goalkicker needs a fresh start next season.

Adam Treloar is kicking a footy again... Picture: Getty Images

...But will he make it back for the Pies during the finals? Picture: Getty Images

Gun midfielder Adam Treloar is also in a race against time to be fit for the back half of September after stepping up his running program over the past fortnight.

Treloar, who had surgery to fix a torn hamstring tendon in his left leg after Round 14, completed some more running yesterday, seven weeks into his recovery.

His best chance would be a return in the second or third weeks of September, but he would have to build some fitness first, after more than three months out of the game.

Buckley said it was unclear if Treloar would play again this year.

“He is doing some good things,” Buckley said.

“For every win we get we give him a little bit more time (to return), but when we have got some solid info on that you will get it.”

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >