Star Collingwood defender Darcy Moore is set to return less than two weeks after escaping serious injury in a major boost for the in-form Magpies.
The one-time All-Australian was cleared of major damage to a knee after going down in a concerning incident late in Collingwood's thrilling round 16 win against Gold Coast.
Moore missed last week's narrow victory over embattled North Melbourne but will likely line-up against Adelaide this Saturday as the Magpies chase an eighth-straight win and eye an unexpected top-four spot.
"(Moore's) still got to pull up well (on Friday) but he trained really well and we're confident he'll play," Magpies coach Craig McRae said.
"We thought he was a chance last week and he didn't quite get to the line.
"It was the unknown until he trained but he trained really well, he's got a smile on his face and looks ready to go."
However dashing defender Isaac Quaynor will not make the trip to South Australia after contracting COVID-19.
Quaynor is the only one at Collingwood currently in isolation but AFL clubs are on high-alert after the Brisbane Lions lost five players to COVID-19 for last week's costly loss against Essendon,.
"It's just the nature of what's going around at the moment and we've just got to be ready for what comes with it," McRae said.
"We don't want to add extra layers to it, it is what it is, but we're certainly more cautious of it.
"The leadership group have maybe just put a couple of guidelines and boundaries around what it looks like it.
"As we saw on the weekend with Brisbane it can become quite an issue if you don't get a hold of it."
