Collingwood veteran Jeremy Howe is likely to be sidelined until AFL preliminary final weekend as he recovers from his latest injury setback.

The 35-year-old has had a wretched run of luck with his body, having been subbed out of his past four games.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Xander McGuire provides the latest Jeremy Howe news on Footy Feast.

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He missed two games with the groin injury he suffered against Gold Coast in Round 18, then missed another one due to illness, and lasted a matter of minutes on return against Hawthorn in Round 22 when he was knocked out cold.

Now the defender is facing an uphill battle to return at all this year, which will only be possible if the Magpies go deep into September.

“It’s a recurrence of the same injury,” Xander McGuire said on Footy Feast.

“He said he heard it pop, and that’s never good news.

“He’s likely to miss at least three weeks, so that rules him out of action until at least the prelim final.”

It’s a devastating blow for the Magpies, whose recent run of poor form coincides with Howe’s injury and illness troubles.

They have looked a significantly better side with Howe in it, but will have to turn back to some inexperience to cover his loss.

Brody Mihocek (hand) and Beau McCreery (foot) are also set to have scans but McRae didn’t hold major concerns over the forward-line pair.

Collingwood sat on top of the ladder for 11 consecutive weeks but will most likely finish the home-and-away season in fourth spot after winning just two of their last seven matches.

They had to fight back from 15 points down in the final quarter against Melbourne on Friday night, kicking the last four goals of the match to win.

Despite the late-season form dip, McRae is bullish about what can be achieved in September.

“Fifteen points down in the last quarter and finding a way to win; that’s us just having that gear or mode of transport to get us moving,” McRae said on Friday.

“I thought we took some big steps last week (against Adelaide) in our defence and I thought we took some growth in our offence this week.”

McRae is also excited by what proven finals performer Jordan De Goey could produce on the big stage after his influential performance against Melbourne.

In his fourth game back from injury, De Goey tallied 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six clearances and a goal.

“He’s a mile ahead of where I thought he’d be at this time. I still thought he’d be playing sub or subbed out,” McRae said.

“But he had eight score involvements, his clearance work is back to his beast mode and he’s an important player for us.

“Historically finals have been his time to shine and he’s probably one of the freshest players we have. I’m excited by what could be.”

- With AAP