COLLINGWOOD has received a timely boost ahead of its crunch game against Richmond, with Nick Maxwell and Dayne Beams likely to be available on Friday night.

Maxwell and Beams both injured their ankles in the Magpies' 11-point loss to Geelong on Saturday night, but they have received better-than-expected news after injury assessments.

But Collingwood is likely to be without Sam Dwyer for at least one week, after he strained a medial ligament in his knee against the Cats.

Magpies football manager Rodney Eade said Maxwell would go through a fitness test on Thursday to confirm his status for Friday night's game.

"It (Maxwell's ankle) was reasonably swollen after the game, but he's looked after it as a true professional does and he stayed up all night icing," Eade said.

"It's pulled up pretty well. He'll be off legs for most of the week and he'll have a final test on Thursday just to clarify it, but we're pretty confident he'll play."

Beams fell awkwardly in a Josh Caddy tackle early in the game, but after receiving treatment through the night managed to run out the game.

"He's a little bit better than Nick, so we expect him to play as well," Eade said.

Dwyer was substituted out of the game in the third quarter against the Cats and is likely to miss this week.

"The doctor has the view that he might be able to play this week, but the six-day break will probably count against him," Eade said.

"If he does miss this week he'll only miss the one (match)."

Eade also gave an update on the progression of first-round draftee (No. 10 overall) Nathan Freeman, as he works his way back from a severe hamstring injury.

Freeman damaged his hamstring tendon when he pulled up short against the Cats in their NAB Challenge game on February 12.

"It involved a tendon injury and the tendon takes a long time to heal. We have the view that he'll be playing hopefully by about round seven (mid-way through May) in the reserves," Eade said.

Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie