COLLINGWOOD wants to keep talented forwards Jamie Elliott and Alex Fasolo at the club beyond 2018, with Elliott close to signing a new deal and coach Nathan Buckley confirming Fasolo is a required player. 

Elliott is due to come out of contract at season's end and, despite not having played a game this year after multiple hamstring issues, the latest of which required surgery and ended his chances of returning to contribute during finals, Buckley confirmed reports the 25-year-old would recommit to the club.

"That'll probably happen. They (media) probably got that one right," Buckley said at the Holden Centre on Thursday.

POWER V PIES A lot is on the line in this clash

Fasolo is an unrestricted free agent and has lined up in just one match for the senior side in 2018.

"'Faz' is in the middle of a campaign and he's one of those guys that's trying to put together a body of work to prove that he can come in and help us up top. Anything beyond that will look after itself," Buckley said.

Asked if the exciting 26-year-old was a required player, Buckley answered in the affirmative.

"Yep, and anything beyond that will look after itself," he said.

Fasolo suffered a right ankle syndesmosis injury against St Kilda in round nine and has tallied nine games for the VFL team this season, contributing 16 goals. 

Amid a mounting injury list, the Pies had another scare at training with spring-heeled forward Will Hoskin-Elliott looking ginger as he left the track early ahead of the clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.  

"Bumps and bruises, they happen. He should be right," Buckley said.

Star backman Jeremy Howe is targeting a return for the clash against Fremantle next week after he had an operation for what the club has described as a deeply corked thigh, while a back complaint is still hampering Tyson Goldsack as he bids to make a miraculous recovery from a knee reconstruction in March.

"Howey came out of surgery really well and is looking to round 23, and Goldy's yet to play off his ACL. He had a bit of a run around today, but has still got a bit of work to do," Buckley said.

Gun onballer Adam Treloar ran well on Thursday in his recovery from a left hamstring operation but still has to prove his fitness to club doctors.

"He's not going to die wondering," Buckley said.

Swingman Darcy Moore also trained away from the main group as he deals with a hamstring complaint.

Meanwhile, former Cat Travis Varcoe will line up in his 200th game against the Power.

At Geelong, he was one of the younger members of the squad, whereas it has been different at Collingwood.

"I've been able to find out a bit more about myself and I've been fortunate enough to extend the career," Varcoe said.

Buckley said Varcoe had been vital for the Pies.

"His immediate impact was huge. He came in to the club and really took our training intensity to another level with the way that he attacked his first pre-season and the expectations that he brought," Buckley said.

"His understanding of being part of a multiple-premiership program and being a multiple premiership player, that was no surprise the impact that he did have and that's continued on through his four years here.

"Moving into the part of the year that we're moving into, Trav's perspective has been really important for me, as much as for the players."