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Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy appears a likely starter against Geelong, just days after medical staff ruled him out for up to three weeks.

Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom will join superstar Nick Daicos on the sidelines but defender Nathan Murphy is pushing to make an unlikely appearance in the Magpies' blockbuster clash with Geelong.

Sidebottom, a dual Copeland Trophy winner who has played 304 AFL games, will sit out Friday night's MCG bout with the Cats due to foot soreness.

It is another loss to Collingwood's midfield, who were smashed in that area during the shock upset defeat to Hawthorn last Saturday when Daicos suffered a hairline fracture in his right knee.

But Murphy, who was initially feared to miss up to three weeks with an ankle injury, trained on Wednesday and is expected to take on Geelong.

"The doctor said two to three weeks but it ended up being two to three days," Pies coach Craig McRae said of Murphy's injury on Wednesday.

"He's got through training and whether he pulls up well, we'll see how that goes. But it will be hard to pick him if he does.

"It presented as really sore straight after the game and then two days later it settles really well and he's able to train."

Although Sidebottom will miss against Geelong, he should be available to face the third-placed Brisbane Lions in round 23.

"If we had an extra couple of days maybe he'd (Sidebottom) be available but he's not gonna make it this week," McRae said.

"He's got a foot injury that plays up a little bit. He's been carrying it for a couple of years and every now and again it gets a bit grumbly."

Daicos, the raging Brownlow Medal favourite before being hurt, won't return until around the preliminary final weekend, if the ladder-leading Magpies make it that far.

"I rang him (Daicos) up and said 'you're going to be so fit for the finals', that was my first line to him when I spoke to him," McRae said.

"Clearly there's a disappointment base of being out for whatever that looks like.

"But he's a great kid and he'll be doing everything in his power; I can't imagine he'll be standing still to try and fast track a healing bone in his leg."

Despite losing their last two games, Collingwood remain on track to secure the minor premiership and are still eight points and percentage clear on top of the ladder.

McRae refuted speculation the Magpies had become complacent and were already focusing on how they could be at their best in finals.

He had a cheeky dig at Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who before the team's clashed three weeks ago hinted Collingwood might be peaking too early.

"Have we got an eye on on September? No," McRae said.

"We've got an eye on August.

"Using a line from from Ken Hinkley, we don't want to be top in July, let's get busy in August, hey."