Collingwood coach Craig McRae has confirmed superstars Nick Daicos and Scott Pendlebury will return to their side for their blockbuster Gather Round clash against Fremantle.

Pendlebury was held out of the Magpies’ 54-point loss to Brisbane on Easter Thursday due to Achilles soreness, while Daicos was a late withdrawal after failing a late fitness test while battling a corked calf.

But after the pair both got through training on Wednesday, McRae said they would feature against the Dockers on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.

“Nick will play and so will Pendles, they did what they needed to do to get through this week,” McRae said.

Daicos had made a brilliant start to the 2025 season, winning 41, 33 and 36 disposals in his first three games, while the 38-year-old Pendlebury was brilliant in a quasi-substitute role as his side defeated St Kilda in Opening Round.

Meanwhile, the Magpies will also hand mature-aged draftee Angus Anderson his first AFL game.

The 22-year-old South Australian won the Jack Oatey Medal for the best player afield in last year’s SANFL grand final at the same ground where he will make his bow at the top level.

“Tough,” McRae said when asked to describe Anderson. “The fans will love his tackle intensity. Every time we show some highlights in the VFL, he’s really smashing in and hurting the opposition.

“His contest and clearance stuff is his strength and we play against an opposition that is number one in the competition for those parts of the game.”

Fremantle will be without Hayden Young for the game after Justin Longmuir confirmed yesterday the injury-prone left-footer was still at least one week away from returning from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile Michael Frederick (ankle) also remains at least one game away despite re-joining training on Tuesday.