Sceptics who queried Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury's selection for Saturday night's preliminary final against Geelong are probably none the wiser after Friday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock.

The 21-year-old, who was named in the Magpies' starting line-up just 11 days after having a plate inserted to reinforce a fractured fibula, moved fairly freely during the 40-minute session.

But the squad of 25 barely raised a sweat in completing its routine set of regulation drills before a crowd of about 500 faithful.

Pendlebury, whose long leggings failed to disguise heavy strapping on his lower right leg, was not required to sprint or change direction or to subject himself to tackling or body contact.

Addressing the media after training, senior coach Mick Malthouse said that Pendlebury would be given until literally the last minute to prove that he's right.

"Right now he's playing, tomorrow we'll see," said Malthouse.

"An injury like that you have just got to do that - you've got to see how the player comes up."

"He wouldn't be the first or last player that's going to have a query."

"A player that can play at 80 percent, 100-percent of the time in finals football is better than a player who can play 100 percent 80-percent of the time."

"Scott's got to be able to play 100-percent of the time."

Asked whether he thought Pendlebury looked proppy on the track, Malthouse attributed any awkwardness to the player's distinctive loping gait.

The entire Collingwood squad took part including an unconvincing Josh Fraser who at one stage was unable to bear his body weight on his suspect right knee when trying to pick himself off the ground after being knocked over in a ruck contest by Cameron Wood.

Fellow emergency Dayne Beams didn't appear to be inconvenienced by heavy strapping on his right calf and Malthouse said he expected the 19-year-old to play his role if required on Saturday night.