Collingwood will be without the exciting Jamie Elliott in the early stages of 2016 as the 23-year-old attempts to overcome a back injury.

Director of Football Neil Balme told Collingwood Media on Wednesday that the forward needs time to overcome what has been a persistent concern.

“He’s got what we call a pars defect,” Balme said.

“We’re going to take him out of the program for three or four weeks and not do the genuine footy stuff.

“We’re pretty confident that by that stage he should be right to go again.”

A timeframe for Elliott’s return to the field will be dependent on his recovery, however Balme is confident he will have an impact sooner rather than later.

“In terms of when he will play, he won’t play round one, but we’re pretty optimistic that he’ll have a big impact for the rest of the season.”

Elliott played 20 games in 2015 as the Magpies narrowly missed a finals berth.

He missed two games in July due to a stress reaction in July, however successfully returned to play the final six games of the season.

“It is similar but not the same,” Balme said when comparing the current injury to last season’s concern.

“It was a particular facet joint last year that was a bit sore. It’s in the same kind of area so obviously it’s the same kind of issue.

“We’ve just got to settle it down and make sure that he’s okay.”

29-man squad named - View the team selected for Friday's NAB Challenge clash.

Collingwood will lose one of its premium goal scoring options with the absence of Elliott.

The 23-year-old kicked a career-high 35 goals last season, beating Travis Cloke by one major and resultantly winning the Gordon Coventry Medal for Collingwood’s leading goalkicker.

The nature of Elliott’s injury means he could play through the pain, however Balme believes he would be unable to replicate his best form.

“If he really had to play a game he could, but to get through a full season with this sort of soreness doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel if we can settle him down and then get him going again.”