Collingwood will call on both ruck options Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox for Thursday's Qualifying Final against Melbourne as coach Craig McRae looks to deal with several selection "headaches".
The Magpies will regain defensive pair Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy from injury for their opening final, while pressure forward Beau McCreery will be available after serving a one-game suspension.
The trio of returns will add to the selection dilemma that McRae faces this week, with his side posting a 70-point win over Essendon in their last outing while also recording no injury concerns that will impact their premiership prospects.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, McRae said he's been left pleased with the training levels his group have put forward ahead of their first finals bout, presenting a selection squeeze for their showdown with Melbourne.
"September does spark a bit more interest around wanting to be available. I thought we trained really well (on Tuesday)," the Collingwood coach said. "The last session on Sunday was exactly the same.
"We've got great intensity, it looks like we're ready to go.
"I like to think we've got a number of players that (would be in the mix). It's going to be tough, I've slept on a couple of magnets just not sure which way to go. I've been debating and analysing who fits in and why.
"Reality is, we'll pick a team we think can beat Melbourne. That's what we're setting ourselves up for.
"... We've had some players who have played some sensational football of late, and some have got a great body of work. There'll be some matchup things and some system things (to consider). We've got some headaches in front of us."
While McRae chose to keep his cards close to his chest in regard to what role veteran swingman Jeremy Howe will have against his old side, the Magpies mentor was happy to note both Cameron and Cox will face the Demons.
While the extent of the pair's in-game capacity is yet to be known, the looming ruck call has been settled days out from the first final of this season.
"They both will play," McRae said of his two leading ruckmen.
"What capacity that is, whether one starts as the sub, I'm not sure. We'll work through that. But the best version of us over the last 18 months is when they're both at their best.
"We like to think they'll bring that on Thursday night."
Among the names that have pressed their selection case late is small forward Jack Ginnivan, who booted a season-high three goals and handed off a further three assists against the Bombers in McCreery's absence.
Searching for more "spark" this September, McRae noted that the relationship between Ginnivan and the Magpie Army has buoyed the club in recent weeks.
"Jack's been an important player over the past few weeks, he's an excitement machine," McRae said.
"When you're out on the ground and they call his name out, or if he touches the ball, it's an incredible reaction. The fans clearly spark him on and we get a spark from that too."
Round 24 tactical sub Finlay Macrae was also impressive in just 37% game time in the win over Essendon, while Oleg Markov has only continued to hone a role in McRae's rearguard with each passing week.
The Magpies will name their squad for the Qualifying Final on Wednesday night at 6:20pm (AEST).
