PREMIERSHIP defender Nathan Brown is expected to play again this season as he continues to make a faster than expected recovery from a knee reconstruction.

The Collingwood backman's season was thought over after he went down in February with a torn ACL and the club decided on traditional surgery rather than the speedier LARS surgery, but Brown could be ready to play in August.

"When he had his op in February, the surgeon, Julian Feller, said the aim was to get him back playing before the year was out so we've always had that as a goal, if you like," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh told the Herald Sun.

"With his progress to date - even though we're still a fair way away from pinpointing an exact [return] day - there's been nothing to derail those thoughts. He's moving along nicely."

Part of Brown's recovery could be a trip to the United States with the Herald Sun reporting Collingwood plans to send a coterie of its injured stars to the club's pre-season altitude camp in Arizona for an intensive rehabilitation program.

Among those expected to join Brown are star midfielder Dane Swan and ruckman Leigh Brown, who are both battling niggling injuries.

Walsh said the trip was "something we're considering very strongly".

"It would only apply to a handful of players, a combination of blokes who we think are very important to us. Players who might have a bit of a niggle at the moment or might be coming back from a long-term injury."