Collingwood expect to be without Scott Pendlebury, one of their best midfielders, for at least two AFL games but are thankful his knee injury is not severe.

Pendlebury wrenched his left knee when his ankle became trapped underneath the body of Sydney's Ryan O'Keefe in the opening minutes of Saturday night's game at ANZ Stadium, and took no further part in his side's win.

But Magpies football chief Geoff Walsh said the club was confident Pendlebury had escaped major injury despite the scare, although he would miss the games against Fremantle and Essendon, and possibly the clash against the Western Bulldogs in round 15.

"It's not too bad," Walsh said on Sunday.

"Our docs are pretty confident it's just a strained medial (ligament) and nothing more than that, which isn't too bad.

"He's probably looking at two to three (games out)."

Pendlebury's absence will be a blow given he has averaged 30 disposals a game in 2009, and his form in recent weeks helped the Magpies turn their season around.

But Collingwood proved on Saturday night they can win without him, and can still call on forwards Paul Medhurst and Anthony Rocca in coming weeks.

Ankle problems have kept Medhurst out since round six and Rocca sidelined since round seven, but both have since played in the VFL and declared themselves ready.

Medhurst was an emergency against the Swans.

Fellow forward John Anthony was left with a painful corked hip when crunched by O'Keefe at the Olympic stadium, but returned to the field in the last quarter and is expected to be available to play the Dockers.

Collingwood also expect tall defender Nathan Brown to be available despite him pulling out of the clash against Sydney because of knee soreness.

The Swans will this week assess a shoulder injury suffered by midfielder Jarrad McVeigh, who damaged his left shoulder when crunched by Magpie Leigh Brown early in the game.

McVeigh had his shoulder strapped and returned to the field, but played out the game under duress.

McVeigh, the Swans' reigning best and fairest, will be out to continue his streak of 84 consecutive games, dating back to the start of the 2006 season.

Saturday night's defeat left Sydney in 11th spot with a 5-7 win-loss record, with a crucial game to come, against sixth-placed Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

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