Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe is on track to return from a groin injury in time for the Magpies' preliminary final next weekend, partly thanks to NRL superstar Cameron Munster.
Howe was subbed out of the Magpies' Round 24 clash with Melbourne after suffering another setback with his troublesome groin, leaving the veteran with a race against time to return before the end of his side's finals run.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jeremy Howe reveals Cameron Munster's role in his injury recovery.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
A separate groin setback six weeks prior only made the 35-year-old's current recovery even more precarious.
But speaking to Sunrise on Thursday morning, Howe said he expects to be ready for the penultimate round of the finals next week.
"Everything's trending really well, so I've been able to put a mountain of work in to get it all right," he said.
"The boys getting the job done last week certainly helps my case.
"Big training session tomorrow, hopefully tick that off, and away we go."
Leaving no stone unturned in his bid to get back on the field as soon as possible, Howe consulted Storm star Munster, who recently recovered from a six-week groin injury in four weeks.
"Any time you cop an injury, you're always looking for resources or experiences, and he was fortunate enough to get back (from a similar injury) in a four-week period," Howe said.
"(I) reached out, and he gave me a couple of hidden talents to help get me through, and I feel like I've had good up-tick."
With Howe a near-certainty to come back into the Magpies' side, the big question for Craig McRae's selection committee now centres around Bobby Hill, who dominated a scratch match against Geelong last week.
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist hasn't played since the Pies' Round 21 loss to Brisbane, which at that stage was already his first game in six weeks, having dealt with several personal issues.
Hill has been absent from Collingwood training for extended periods over the past two months, but is now back into full-time work and has his hand up for selection ahead of next week.
Howe said the players would love to have him back in the team.
"The players are always happy to get him back in the environment; we feel like that's a really good place for him to be," he said.
"He's been training really well and been back in, on a consistent basis, so it just becomes a question (for the) selection committee, which Fly (McRae) will be driving.
"And it's just a matter of, has he done enough?
"It's nice to have him around the place, I know the boys are seeing him, it looks like he's up and about and he's smiling, so we'll wait and see."