A pair of Collingwood midfielders are in a race against the clock to be fit for Friday's blockbuster clash with Carlton.
Senior Magpies duo Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell are dealing with groin and foot issues respectively.
The club has stated pair have pulled up sore from last Thursday's Anzac Day draw and will undergo fitness tests over the coming days in the lead-up to Round 8.
De Goey and Mitchell combined for 42 possessions in the clash against Essendon, with the latter subbed out of the match for tactical purposes.
Collingwood are scheduled for a main training session on Wednesday before their captain's run the day after, with De Goey and Mitchell to be tested until the 11th hour.
Mitchell has been managing a plantar fasciitis issue to start the season, and due to the short turnaround between the club's past two matches the Brownlow Medal winner has pulled up sore from last Thursday.
Fringe pairing Lachie Sullivan and Finlay Macrae are likely to be in the mix to replace either, or both, of De Goey or Mitchell should they not be deemed fit to face the Blues.
Macrae was among the Magpies' best performers in the VFL over the weekend, while Sullivan has impressed across the opening five games of the competition after joining Collingwood's senior list from Footscray via the Supplemental Selection Period.
Veteran midfielder Steele Sidebottom could also be brought into the selection conversation after amassing just the seven disposals against Essendon last week, while fringe defender Oleg Markov is another name who has continued to press his case for a recall at VFL level.
The Magpies will name their squad for Friday's match at 6:20pm (AEST) on Thursday.
