COLLINGWOOD coach Craig McRae is eager to see more of Josh Daicos as an inside midfielder, but concedes his hands might be tied for the clash with Fremantle.

An elite half-back and wingman, Daicos was outstanding when moved into the engine room last round.

The 26-year-old produced a 16-disposal, two-goal final quarter that almost dragged the Magpies to a comeback win over Gold Coast.

But with superboot Dan Houston (abdominal strain) sidelined, McRae could be forced to use Daicos in defence against the Dockers at the MCG on Sunday.

"Everyone in the footy world will be wondering where he starts this week," McRae said.

"With Dan out, it will be challenging to keep him out of the backline for major parts.

"But I think also we'd be silly not to explore what that (inside midfield option) looks like, whether it's this week or going forward.

"He had a remarkable impact on the (Gold Coast) game.

"He's an elite talent in the game and I honestly think you could play him anywhere and he'll have an impact.

"It's about what the team needs."

McRae conceded Josh's superstar younger brother Nick Daicos was sore during the Gold Coast clash, when he had 26 disposals and six clearances.

But he said the Brownlow Medal favourite had rebuffed the idea of playing in the substitute role, amid suggestions he should be rested before the finals.

"The facts were he looked sore and the GPS says that," McRae said.

"He's getting beaten up a bit but that's part of the job, isn't it?

"It's hard to keep him out though ... it's a challenge to keep one of the best players off the field but we're very conscious of his loads."

The loss to the Suns was only Collingwood's third of the season, cutting its lead on top of the ladder to six competition points.

McRae agreed it had put a bit of fire back in his team's belly ahead of the Fremantle clash.

"We got served a pretty ugly meal at the start of the game, particularly at half-time without scoring a goal," McRae said.

"(It was) a little wake-up call ... there's a lot of things in this game that we think will serve us well at another time when needed.

"Whether it's coming from behind to get up or fighting for every inch in every minute we have in games.

"But I'd like to think the pencils are a bit sharper this week."

McRae confirmed Beau McCreery (hamstring), Brody Mihocek and Pat Lipinski (both managed) would all return against Fremantle.

Veteran flyer Jeremy Howe (groin) will miss, along with fellow defensive mainstay Houston.

Bobby Hill requires a short training block to return to full fitness, set to miss a fourth straight game after sitting out because of personal reasons and illness.