Luckless Collingwood big man Nathan Kreuger is set to spend more time on the sidelines this season after scans confirmed the former Cat had sustained a moderate-grade hamstring strain.
The 24-year-old suffered the strain during a VFL scratch match against Richmond at Punt Road on Tuesday, with Kreuger sent for scans on the spot.
This setback comes after Kreuger underwent shoulder surgery at the beginning of the 2023 season after suffering the injury toward the end of his 2022 campaign.
Kreuger has managed just seven senior games since joining the Pies at the cessation of the 2021 season, crossing from Kardinia Park at the trade table.
The South Australia appears unlikely to add to his tally during the early stages of the seasons, with Josh Gabelich of AFL Media reporting the ruck-forward could miss as many as six weeks.
Since making his senior debut for Geelong in 2021, Kreuger has made just nine AFL appearances, slotting four goals across the course of his perennially interrupted career.
After completing their pair of pre-season fixtures, Collingwood will soon make the trip north to face GWS in the league's inaugural Opening Round.