Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell looks certain to miss the opening round of the AFL as well as his side's pre-season cup final after being hospitalised with bleeding from his kidneys.

Maxwell is expected to spend at least a week in a Perth hospital before he can return to Melbourne after a heavy hit during the weekend's semi-final win over West Coast.

His immediate playing future is unclear, though doctors are keeping him in hospital as they attempt a clearer diagnosis of his injuries.

Maxwell was well enough to send a message via Twitter from his hospital bed: "I have internal bleeding from my injuries. Stuck in hospital for a while."

But Collingwood ruled Maxwell out of the pre-season final against Essendon on Friday night at the very least, saying he would remain in Perth under the eye of doctors until further notice.

"His condition will be monitored in coming days but at this stage his recovery time and return to Melbourne are not confirmed," the club said.

Maxwell left the field during the first half of the West Coast clash after a heavy, but fair, hip and shoulder from Eagles forward Andrew Embley.

Initially the Magpies thought Maxwell was winded, or may have injured a shoulder or rib.

The injury is the latest blow to a Collingwood backline which faces heavy reshaping should the skipper be sidelined for a long period.

The premiers have already lost defender Nathan Brown for the season with a serious knee injury.

The Magpies paid a high price for their march into a third finale in five months, with rookie Tom Hunter also left behind in hospital as they flew home to Melbourne on Sunday.

Hunter injured his neck in the first quarter against the Eagles.

But Collingwood are likely to bring back several big guns for Friday night's final at Etihad Stadium, led by Alan Didak, Luke Ball and Heath Shaw, with head coach Mick Malthouse set to take the reins.

Malthouse has let his assistant coaches run the team on pre-season match days until now.

West Coast also have injury concerns, with coach John Worsfold revealing both Mitch Brown and Nic Naitanui suffered partial shoulder dislocations.

They are expected to miss Saturday's pre-season clash with Fremantle, but Worsfold is confident both will be in contention for round one.

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