Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley concedes Adam Treloar is unlikely to win his race against time to play in their qualifying final with West Coast but believes he’ll be a finals force this September for the Magpies.

Defender Jeremy Howe is expected to return for the Optus Stadium match next Saturday but Buckley sees Treloar as a more likely contributor later in the finals.

“His training session today was impressive and we’ll have some decisions to make … it’s in the realm of possibility that (he’d return) Saturday week but unlikely,” Buckley said.