Collingwood veteran Lynden Dunn could be set for a dramatic round 1 return.
Dunn injured his ACL in round 15 last season and was set to miss a full year of action.
A recent update has stated that Dunn is projected to return within the opening four rounds meaning that his recovery will have lasted nine months, three fewer than expected.
Dunn wouldn’t match the recovery time of fellow defender Tyson Goldsack, who injured his ACL and returned within the same season, including playing in the Grand Final.
The Magpies have struggled with injuries in recent months, with many key players missing the majority of 2018, including Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott.