Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says Ben Reid is unlikely to return until the second half of the season, with the key position utility again battling a quad injury.
Reid had scans on Tuesday morning which encouragingly showed "no muscle disruption" but he still faces a lengthy time on the sidelines.
"We are treating it like a mild corkie and like everyone else we're really keen for Reidy to be 100 per cent clean but his progress has been excellent," Buckley said.
"We'll manage this like a corkie and he may be running in two days time, he may be a chance to play this week. We'll see how that settles.
"In so far as playing AFL football, he'll play when he's robust, when he's confident in his body, when we are confident in his body and when he is in good form.
"We don't have a time frame on it as such. Reidy is on his own program. We will give him every chance to get up. We believe the second half of the year is probably when we hope to get him back."
Reid left the field early in a VFL match on Sunday, having had 12 possessions, including six marks, to that point. He said the diagnosis could have been worse.
"It is frustrating but at the same time there are a lot of people worse off. I don't think it's that serious," Reid said.
Reid, in the first of a four-year contract, was flown to Germany during the pre-season and had met with soft-tissue specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt in Munich.
"You can call it a setback if you like but all it is is a knock," Buckley said.
"He has a lot of footy left in him."
Taylor Adams, who missed last week with an ankle injury, will need to prove his fitness on Thursday if he is to return on Anzac Day against Essendon, while father-son recruit Darcy Moore, taken in last year's draft, could make his debut.
"He is playing some really good footy, Darc. We have got some boys that are putting their hands up for selection, week in, week out," Buckley said.
Buckley said he did not know the results of the B sample tests of Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe. The pair have been provisionally suspended after their A samples tested positive to the banned substance clenbuterol.
Buckley all but confirmed small forward Jamie Elliott had inked a contract extension.
"We are pretty confident it's just a matter of telling you guys (reporters) that it's been done," he said.
"We are rapt that he has shown a commitment and loyalty to us and a belief in where we are going."
