COLLINGWOOD vice-captain Nathan Brown is attracting rival interest as the Magpies’ backman battles to retrieve his senior spot.

The Magpies’ premiership full back is a restricted free agent and remains unsigned beyond this season, with two clubs known to be watching his situation closely.

Collingwood’s other free agents who face an uncertain future are Brent Macaffer, Jarryd Blair, Dane Swan and Alan Toovey.

Brown’s twin brother, Mitch, is also out of contract at West Coast and could be tempted to come home to Victoria next season.

Mitch Brown has not played a game this season amid more injury issues and has been leapfrogged by young Eagles’ defender Tom Barrass.

Nathan Brown, 27, is a required player at Collingwood.

But he has fallen out of favour and was dropped to the VFL as the Pies attempted to tighten their defensive zone after the Round 6 loss to West Coast.

The 120-gamer has since been struck down by a hamstring injury, but has been cleared to return this weekend.

The Magpies are also expecting the successful returns of dual knee victim Matthew Scharenberg and banned rookie Lachlan Keeffe next season, giving the club more options in defence.

media_camera Matthew Scharenberg has been plagued by injury since being drafted by Collingwood, playing just a handful on senior games. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Brown is expected to face stiff competition in the back half from Jack Frost, Ben Reid, Keeffe and emerging 20-year-old defender Jonathon Marsh in 2017.

Brown seems unlikely to re-sign at the Magpies until there is more certainty surrounding his senior position over the back half of the season.

He has averaged 10 disposals, four intercept possessions and one intercept mark a game this season, all ranked below average for a key defender by Champion Data.

The 195cm stopper was a pivotal figure in the club’s 2010 premiership, shutting down superstar St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt. But he has since undergone knee and shoulder reconstructions and a cracked patella.

Collingwood could be faced with an interesting situation come season’s end if, as expected, rivals make a more lucrative pitch to poach Brown.

The club’s compensation pick would be based on his age and the value of his next contract.

The Magpies have already traded their first-round pick in this year’s draft as part of the bumper Adam Treloar deal.