Already without their first-choice key forwards, the Magpies' injury problems have reached crisis levels with Josh Fraser and Leon Davis set to miss Sunday's clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Both Davis, who has been nursing an ankle for the past two weeks, and Fraser, troubled by a knee injury sustained while playing for Victoria in the Hall of Fame Tribute match, are in extreme doubt according to assistant coach Guy McKenna, who interrupted a match committee meeting on Thursday to address the media.
"They are a concern given that both boys probably won't come up this week, both boys at this stage would miss," McKenna said.
"We're certainly thin on the decks but the boys are pretty keen for the contest and can’t wait."
Fraser had been earmarked to provide a marking target up forward against the Dogs to cover for the suspended Travis Cloke and Anthony Rocca, who remains a week-to-week proposition with his chronic ankle.
Fraser's absence in particular, McKenna agreed, will compel the Pies to be resourceful and improvise, especially up forward, but that's something the team can turn into a positive.
"If you can have a good thing about injuries, you're actually unpredictable … because you don't go in with the stock standard side," McKenna said.
"The Doggies have been pretty settled - 16 blokes have played every game so far this season and at this stage of the year that's almost unheard of."
"They're settled and you get a good read of them but Collingwood are going in with a few changes and we become a little bit unpredictable and … we'd see that as an advantage."
McKenna conceded that, after a solid month that brought the club victories over St Kilda, Geelong, West Coast and Melbourne, last Sunday's loss to Carlton prompted the club to reassess where it's at.
"Maybe you just weren't crossing the Ts and dotting the Is, you were just performing to maybe 80-85 percent," McKenna said.
"I think there was just a realignment with the players to get their heads back on to say, 'yeah, we were a little soft in some areas, we need to make sure we follow through with what the coaching staff are expecting'."
McKenna said Cameron Wood would come in for Fraser, while Shannon Cox, Danny Stanley and Sam Iles were all in the mix for promotion based on their consistent good form in the VFL.
"I'm sure the side will be different to the side which beat Geelong … but the thing that was noticeable against Geelong was that every one of the 22 competed and played their role and played their part and tackled and executed their skills," he said.
"Against a side like the Dogs … we have to have all 22 contributing, no matter whether it's their first game, second game or 200th game."
Asked about Rocca's immediate future, McKenna said: "He's doing more each week, but that's a week-by-week proposition, but he's missed a bit of footy so we need to get as much footy into him as best we can."