A MISSED training session for Collingwood's Quinten Lynch has cast doubt on the big man's availability for Saturday night's AFL elimination final.
The former Eagle spent time on the bench during Sunday's loss to North Melbourne after twisting his ankle.
The initial indication from coach Nathan Buckley on Monday was that Lynch should recover well enough to take his place against Port Adelaide in Saturday night's do-or-die clash at the MCG.
Both Lynch and key defender Nathan Brown, who was subbed off with a knee injury against the Kangaroos, have been listed as needing a fitness test on the Magpies' weekly injury list.
While Brown trained without apparent problems on Wednesday, Lynch failed to join his teammates for the session.
If the Magpies are unwilling to take a risk on his ankle holding up, it could mean a recall for veteran ruckman Darren Jolly, who hasn't played a senior game since round 12.
Jolly initially lost his place in the side through injury.
But in recent weeks, it has been the strong form of first-year ruckman Brodie Grundy and Lynch's ability to combine his work in attack with ruck pinch-hitting that has kept Jolly from returning.
Grundy, 19, has played just six games since making his debut in round 18, none of those alongside Jolly.
He said this week he would welcome the chance to have the senior ruckman partnering him in the team.
"It would be good," Grundy said.
"I'd relish the opportunity to play with someone like Darren and learn off him while playing."
Grundy said his own whirlwind rise to filling the club's No.1 ruck berth heading into finals had surprised him.
He and Jolly would likely have to rotate through attack, filling Lynch's role as a third tall forward, along with time in the ruck, if Lynch is missing on Saturday night.
But Grundy, who has kicked one goal this season, admits playing in attack comes less naturally to him than ruckwork.
"Playing my junior footy, I mostly just played as a ruckman so that (playing forward) is definitely an area of my game that I do need to improve," Grundy said.
Harry O'Brien (ill) and tough midfielder Luke Ball (calf) both look set to return to the side after completing training on Wednesday.
