"Cogs will be at the footy, probably in the box tomorrow having a look from up above," Cameron said. "It's good to have him back. We'd prefer him out on the ground but that's the way it is. He's our vice-captain, he likes to be involved straight away. He's really connected to the group and he's a good young leader for our club."

Cameron said Coniglio's injury will not disrupt - or accelerate - ongoing contract talks between the two parties. "Nothing changes there at all," he said. "He's taking his time with his thought process but as I've said all the way through, I've got no other reason why not to think he'll be here at this footy club.

"He was back here as quick as he possibly could, he's at the footy club. If I started to sense something different I'd let you guys know but realistically I do not sense it at all. We want him to be a lifer for our footy club, and I haven't changed my thought process on that."

The Giants have not directly replaced Coniglio this week and will take two ruckmen into the Magpies clash. Veteran Shane Mumford is back after a two-week rest and will play alongside deputy Dawson Simpson for the first time, double-teaming Brodie Grundy.

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Cameron said that decision made it difficult to pick another onballer to complement young guns Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. Instead, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield and even forwards Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson will be wheeled through the middle to assist them in what looms as a mammoth task against a Collingwood on-ball unit featuring Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams.

"We feel as though we've got enough runners to run the game out, but time will tell," Cameron said. "We've got a very young midfield in Hopper and Taranto, we know we've got four of our guys out of there, but it's an opportunity to take it up to one of the best midfields in the competition."