Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is considering recalling experienced duo Luke Ball and Alan Didak for the Pies clash with the Dockers in Perth on Saturday night.
Neither player has appeared for Buckley's side this season, but good recent form in the VFL has given the young Collingwood coach much to ponder as he prepares for the Round 7 match.
Ball has played two matches in the VFL in the last fortnight and was named in the best against Williamston on Sunday, while Didak has played five games at the same level and been named in the best twice.
There is no doubt that Ball remains an integral part of Collingwood's best side, but Buckley isn't sure if a trip to Perth to tackle the Dockers would suit the 28-year-old as he returns to full fitness following his ACL injury last year.
"Whether the time is right to pull the trigger on 'Bally'...from a football sense it would make sense because he's played very well," the Collingwood coach said on Tuesday.
"But we need to be absolutely sure that he's had enough match conditioning to be right to go.
"He's a very professional footballer and a great role model for our players around the club.
"We really held him back to give him the best opportunity when he came back. And he has come back in fantastic nick."
Buckley said the final decision on Ball would be made in consultation with the club's medical staff.
"We'll sit down with the medicos as we do at the beginning of every week and see where our players are at,” he said.
"We won't just be looking at who's available for selection this week, we'll be looking what sort of progressions our players need to get back up to full fitness and to be playing their best football.''
Buckley said there were many players from Collingwood's VFL side in form and in the mix to play against the Dockers, with Ball and Didak not the only two to impress.
Young Irish forward Caolan Mooney booted five goals against Williamstown, while Marley Williams and Jordan Russell also did some nice things in the narrow six-point loss.
"We've had some really strong performances down there," Buckley said of Collingwood's form in the VFL.
"This week is very interesting on the selection table."
A win against the Dockers would see the Pies improve to 5-3 for the season and Buckley knows how important the match may be when teams are jostling for finals positions at the end of the year.
"We know we're going to go across and face a very tough opponent, same win-loss ratio, same aspirations to be a top-four club," he said.
"These sort of games show either you're heading in the right direction or you've got a bit of work to do."