Travis Cloke is set to return from a calf injury for Collingwood's must-win game against the Sydney Swans on Friday night provided he pulls up well from the Pies' main training session, coach Nathan Buckley says.

Cloke moved well during training at the Westpac Centre on Wednesday morning and has now completed two weeks of solid work since injuring his calf during the Pies' round 16 loss to West Coast.

Buckley said he would gladly welcome Cloke back into his forward line as his team strives to reach the finals from six premiership points outside the top eight.

But the Magpies coach said the club's medical staff would have the final sign-off on Cloke's return.

"Clearly he's an important player for us, clearly we need to win every game that we've got in front of us to give ourselves any chance of playing finals," Buckley said.

"We have that in the back of our minds when it comes to selection this afternoon, but we're not going to throw anyone in who's not 100 per cent ready to do what they need to do.

"He's had two really strong weeks of training on the track and we'll speak to the medicos and get their advice on whether they feel that he's up to speed and, if he pulls up well and we get the tick there, I won't be stopping him from playing."

Buckley said if Cloke was passed fit the Pies could play fellow talls Ben Reid and Darcy Moore alongside him, but would have to decide what forward-line mix would most trouble the Swans.

The Magpies coach conceded his team had to beat the Swans this Friday night to keep alive its faint finals hopes.

With four rounds to play, the 11th-placed Pies are a game-and-a-half behind Geelong (eighth) and Adelaide (ninth), and a game behind Greater Western Sydney (10th).

Buckley said Collingwood's six straight losses after its 8-3 start to the season meant it now had no margin for error.

"We weren't able to jag enough wins through that middle period and that's put us in a position where the results need to be positive for us right through the last four rounds," he said.

Buckley also said second-year midfielder Nathan Freeman was unlikely to play again this season after he last week suffered yet another setback in his 18-month battle with recurring hamstring injuries.

Freeman, the No. 10 pick in the 2013 National Draft, missed all of last year's home and away season after suffering a serious hamstring tear in the NAB Challenge.

He returned to play four consecutive VFL games at the start of this season, but has been sidelined since undergoing exploratory hamstring surgery in May.

Buckley said Collingwood's medical and conditioning staff were "scratching their heads" over Freeman's latest setback but were confident of eventually resolving his hamstring issues.

"Nathan's frustrated, our medical staff are frustrated, our conditioning staff are disappointed with the setback that he's had, so we're examining all options now to make sure that we give Nathan the best chance to get back to full fitness as soon as possible," Buckley said.

"It will be unlikely that we will see him this year and we're considering all alternatives to give him the best chance to get up for pre-season and then to display his wares next year and beyond.

"We feel for him. We want to give him the best chance to have a crack at a professional AFL career and it's just going to take a little bit more time."