Darcy Moore has sent a massive scare through Collingwood ahead of the finals, with his AFL comeback cut short by hamstring tightness.

The defender left the field in the last quarter of Friday night’s win over Essendon at the MCG.

It is understood Moore had tightness in the same left hamstring that had put him action for the previous five matches.

“Darcy came off tight – no real signs, other than that, tight in the hammy,” coach Nathan Buckley said.

“We didn’t want to risk him beyond that.

“So we’ll know more about that as it settles.”

Matt Scharenberg was also forced out of the game after a heavy collision with teammate Levi Greenwood in the first quarter.

Buckley said Scharenberg was recovering by the end of the match and the Magpies coach is upbeat about his availability for the opening week of the finals.

Josh Thomas appears to have avoided a knee injury when he limped off near the end of the game.

While Collingwood continue to have injury problems, they will take a four-game winning streak into the finals.

They also could finish in the top four and gain a double chance, depending on other round-23 results.

But they could also face Essendon again in a knockout elimination final.

“You would take the double chance if you could get it,” Buckley said.

“We can’t do any more about it right now.

“So if we finish there, well then great. If we don’t, then great.”

“We’re pretty confident we can take the next steps, wherever they are.”

While Buckley said there is improvement in Collingwood, he was pleased that they did what was needed to win in the last quarter after Essendon dominated the start of the game.

“There’s a bit of respite now – we’ve looked after our end of the bargain, I suppose, and the home and away is done and dusted,” he said.

“Now we see where it settles.

“I was really encouraged … we went and won a game that needed to be won in that last quarter.”

Jaidyn Stephenson will make his controversial return from a betting ban on Saturday in the VFL.

The AFL has signed off on Stephenson’s 10-week ban ending the day after their round-23 game and not the start of the finals.