COLLINGWOOD defender Ben Reid is "a reasonable chance" to play in round one, but the Magpies won't be taking any risks if there is any doubt over his fitness, football manager Neil Balme says.

Reid played virtually a full match in his comeback game in a VFL practice match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday and worked his way into the contest after half-time with a leading role at centre half-back.

The Magpies are confident they have finally got to the bottom of Reid's string of soft-tissue injuries, which kept the All Australian defender to just four games in 2014.

Balme said Reid would be assessed ahead of Collingwood's final NAB Challenge hit-out against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night before the club made any call on his availability.

"He's pulled up well," Balme said of Reid during the club's Australia Post Community Camp in Bendigo on Monday morning.

"It seems logical that we'd consider him (for the game against the Dogs), but it's just a matter of how he improves during the week."

If the 25-year-old were to turn out against the Bulldogs on Saturday night, he would boost his chances of taking on the Brisbane Lions in the club's season opener at the Gabba on April 4.

"I think he'll be a reasonable chance but given those (injury) misgivings we certainly wouldn't be taking a risk," Balme said.

"He's good enough to play, but has he done enough work?

"He's probably 50/50."

Balme said the club learnt plenty about how best to prepare Reid for matches after his visit to European soccer giant Bayern Munich in Germany in January, where he was treated by leading soft-tissue specialist Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt.

The main point that came out of the trip was "the constant everyday treatment" needed to aid athletes coming back from injury.

"We overreacted in a way because all he had was a soft tissue in his calf. But he wasn't doing that much when he hurt himself, so we were being conservative," Balme said.

"We thought it might have been systemic, if that's the right term, so we thought we would really have a good look at him and see if there were any underlying problems.

"But we're pretty comfortable with where it's at."

Balme also reiterated the Magpies' confidence that Brodie Grundy's bruised hip, which he sustained in Sunday's NAB Challenge match against Carlton at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, would not cause him any problems.

Defender Jack Frost (ankle), who was put in a moon boot as a precaution after injuring himself at training last week, was OK, while Lachlan Keeffe (hamstring) is up to a week away from returning.

Jarrod Witts also made a successful return in the VFL on Saturday after off-season shoulder surgery.

Balme also added the Magpies would place Brent Macaffer, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury at the end of last season, on the long-term injury list to free up a space on the club's senior list.