COLLINGWOOD defender Jeremy Howe has overcome a significant cork in his thigh and is a certain starter for next Saturday's qualifying final against West Coast at Optus Stadium.
Howe has missed the past four games after sustaining a corkie against the Tigers in round 19, an injury that left him hobbled and feeling like an "80-year-old".
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The defender underwent a procedure earlier this month to drain the affected area in his leg after the contusion left him unable to run or kick the footy without a level of discomfort.
"My leg's all good. I'm back in main training now so to come around here (to the Salvation Army) keeps your mind off footy which is great," Howe said as a bunch of Magpies players visited the Salvation Army in Melbourne on Thursday.
"I've had plenty of corks in my time… this one was classified as a 'haematoma' so it was a severe cork that needed to be removed surgically in the end.
"I feel like I'm back to normal now. I'm not in pain getting out of bed now.
"I'm free to go now. We've got a big session tomorrow, we'll tick that off and play next week."
Howe said he was confident he would be able to make his return without any issues.
"In terms of injuries (prior to this one) I've never missed two games in a row so it'll be six weeks until I've played my last game but I've got faith in the program and I've still got the foundations of fitness to be able to play on the weekend," Howe said.
"They're (the match committee) going to back me in to make that call and I think I'll be fine to play in that first final."
Howe will not play in the VFL Magpies' elimination final clash against Essendon on Sunday and instead get prepared for the AFL final a week later.
This will be the first finals appearance of Howe's career and he is looking to embrace everything that comes with it.
The former Demon, now Pie, said he would usually be spending September in Bali or back with family where he hails from Dodges Ferry in Tasmania.
"I'm as excited as anyone. This is my eighth season now and I'm yet to play a final," Howe said.
"It's an exciting time. I'm in unchartered waters and I'm just going to soak it up as much as I can."
Howe has also backed in the Magpies' youthful backline to curtail the likes of Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling, with Jack Madgen, Adam Oxley and Nathan Murphy all part of the backline mix.
Howe also said the bye week before finals gives midfielder Adam Treloar the best chance to return from a long-term hamstring injury, while also giving Tyson Goldsack a shot at making a remarkable return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee suffered in the pre-season.
A number of Magpie players were on hand at the Salvation Army as Collingwood welcomed Coles supermarkets as a community partner.
