COLLINGWOOD is anticipating the return of star forward Jordan De Goey for Saturday night's game against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium, but will seek final medical clearance before declaring him a certain starter.

De Goey has missed the last two matches after a bone stress injury in his lower leg, and the Magpies have been cautious with its treatment to avoid it developing into a season-ending stress fracture.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the idea to de-load De Goey and limit his training program to largely cross training and other non-running based activities had been a smart one.

However, the coach said the club and De Goey were still walking a tightrope when it came to the management of the injury.

"The whole idea was to remove the load through the stress that was affecting his leg, and the risk was that it was going to go further and become a break or a fracture," Buckley said on SEN radio on Wednesday morning.

"We had to be proactive with that. We're treading a bit of a tightrope with how much is enough rest, when is the right time (for De Goey to return).

"We want to play him this week and if the doctors pass him, and they say it's an appropriate risk to take, then he will play."

Buckley said the call was made to sideline De Goey because it was thought he may not be able to see out the season if the injury worsened.

The Magpies have lost to Richmond and Sydney in De Goey's absence.

Important defender Jeremy Howe is no certainty to play against the Lions as he recovers from a significant cork he picked up in the clash with Richmond in round 19.

Howe did not get up in time to face the Swans at the SCG last Saturday night, with the corkie to blame and not the concussion he received from teammate Darcy Moore in a friendly-fire incident against the Tigers.

"We didn't want to necessarily declare it (the corkie)," Buckley said of the injury Howe sustained before being knocked out by Moore's knee.

"It didn't recover well last week, and he's still touch and go for this week. That's problematic for us because we want him up and we want him in there, but at the same time we won't play players who aren't ready to go."

Buckley said star midfielder Adam Treloar was still a few weeks away from a return following two separate serious hamstring injuries against Carlton in round 14.

The Magpies coach also intimated high-flying forward Jamie Elliott would need more surgery on his troublesome hamstring injury, with his latest setback coming in the VFL two weeks ago.

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