COLLINGWOOD could be without skipper Scott Pendlebury for the rest of the season after he underwent a second round of surgery to repair his broken finger on Monday night.

The 29-year-old injured the finger against Gold Coast and missed Sunday's win against West Coast after having an operation last week.

Buckley said the second operation was required to put wire into the bone to help repair the finger, which ruled Pendlebury out for at least four weeks.

With five games remaining the coach conceded it was touch and go as to whether the captain would play again this year.

He said Pendlebury was sore after the operation.

"It's another four weeks from now to make sure he heals appropriately and he is disappointed with that, as we are," Buckley said on Tuesday.

The coach said his message to Pendlebury was to get back as quickly as he could given the season was still alive, but there was no point being silly.

"He's pragmatic about it, we're pragmatic about it," Buckley said.