Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom is a step closer to making his return from a knee injury after being cleared to return to main training next week.
Sidebottom suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain in his side's Round 11 win over North Melbourne and has since worked through his rehabilitation process to be in line for a comeback against Fremantle next Saturday.
The 32-year-old is joined by defender Brayden Maynard (knee) and forward pair Brody Mihocek (hamstring) and Dan McStay (finger) in being in the mix to make returns in Round 18, with the Magpies' selection committee now likely to ponder a number of tough calls.
Sidebottom is still needing to prove his fitness to be named for the Dockers clash however, with the wingman to link up with Collingwood's main contingent at training this week to put himself in the frame for a recall.
"When I first got the injury it was six weeks (for recovery), it's been six weeks now," the premiership Magpie told reporters at the club's junior clinic on Saturday.
"(I'll) get a full week of training in this week and hopefully be right to go for Freo this Saturday.
"... last night I trained (at Olympic Park) with 'Bruzzy' (Maynard) and being a knee injury (underwent) a lot of change in direction, kicking again.
"I got the green tick last night, so I'll join the main group next week and put my hand up to go again."
Collingwood are anticipated to be forced into making at least one change for next week's home game at the MCG, with forward Will Hoskin-Elliott to require surgery on a broken hand sustained in Friday's win over the Western Bulldogs.
Sidebottom's return could counteract Hoskin-Elliott's absence as a width player in Craig McRae's plans, however the side's forward third will require some shuffling with Mihocek and McStay expected to be fit.
Sharpshooter Ash Johnson returned to McRae's side against the Dogs and kicked three goals in Mihocek's absence, with the performance potentially keeping the South Australian in the team for next week.
The Magpies and Dockers will go head-to-head at the MCG next Saturday at 1:45pm (AEST).
