Collingwood and West Coast are set to back in unchanged teams for the AFL grand final, with Magpies assistant Robert Harvey declaring Jeremy Howe a certain starter.
Howe, who tweaked his ankle during the preliminary final win over Richmond, took part in match simulation on Thursday morning after failing to train earlier in the week.
The high-flying backman’s strong showing has assuaged any doubts about his fitness after he failed to train on Tuesday.
Fellow key defender Darcy Moore had loomed as Howe’s likely replacement for Saturday’s decider but almost certainly won’t be risked after being sidelined by a hamstring injury since round 20.
Moore and Ben Reid were in orange “opposition” vests during the match simulation in front of a crowd of about 5000 fans at Olympic Park.
“We’ll go and have a chat now but it looks all good for us to be unchanged,” Harvey told reporters.
“Howie looked fine. He’s done a fair bit and I reckon he’d be rapt with how he’s come up.
“I think he was a bit concerned after the game but he goes in really strong and 100 per cent fit, which is good.”
Reid was an emergency for the last two finals but has managed only six senior games this season, last playing in round 10.
Meanwhile, there’s plenty of pre-grand final focus on West Coast star Jeremy McGovern in Perth.
The three-time All Australian was rested for most of the last quarter in Saturday”s preliminary final blitz of Melbourne.
McGovern didn’t train on Monday and didn’t join the main group at Wednesday’s session.
There are rumours he has broken ribs but Eagles assistant coach Jaymie Graham said on Wednesday he only had a bruised hip.
Star midfielder Luke Shuey (ankle) is also rated a certain starter for the grand final.