Dane Swan says he is yet to make an impact for Collingwood this season and hopes an injury-enforced break means he can have a positive influence should the Pies "sneak into the finals".
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The 2011 Brownlow medallist will miss the next month of football after injuring his left foot in last Sunday's defeat to Essendon.
Swan hurt the plantar fascia and appeared to be hindered in the thumping by the Bombers. He was restricted to 20 disposals in an underwhelming performance.
"It's on the foot underneath, so it's not pleasant," Swan told radio station Triple M. "I'm going to have a spell and try and get myself better and make an impact in the last couple of games, hopefully. Hopefully we sneak into the finals and I can make an impact there because I haven't made one yet."
Swan said he had been hampered by various minor injuries in recent months.
"I've obviously had little ailments and little niggles all year, but none of them have been major enough to keep me out of games. I still believed I could make a positive impact on the side, and I haven't done that to the best of my ability. I expect a lot more of myself and I just haven't been able to do that for some reason this year.
"I just needed a rest and the plantar fascia thing popped up and it will give someone else a go. Hopefully we can win a couple of games while I'm out and I can squeeze back in with a couple of games to go and make a positive impact."
Magpies football manager Rodney Eade hoped the injury layoff would help Swan regain his pace.
"We think Swannie can still be a strong contributor this season but in the short term it is clear that he needs to heal, get his foot right and reclaim that burst speed which has been such a feature of his game," Eade said.
Swan has played 15 of the 16 games so far this year and while his form has been patchy, he is still averaging 25 disposals a game. He had glandular fever before the season, as well as wrist surgery.
The three-time Copeland Trophy winner has been remarkably durable, playing no fewer than 21 games in any completed season since 2006.
Collingwood has lost four of its past five games, putting its place in the top eight in jeopardy. It next faces fellow finals contender Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday week, with games against Port Adelaide (MCG), West Coast (Patersons Stadium) and the Brisbane Lions (MCG) to follow.
The Pies were dealt a blow on Wednesday when defender and former captain Nick Maxwell announced his retirement.
They appear likely to regain utility Ben Reid after he emerged unscathed from last Saturday's VFL match with Werribee. He has not played an AFL game since last year's elimination final defeat to Port Adelaide. Small forward Jamie Elliott is available and midfielder Tim Broomhead will come under notice after a 35-possession effort for the Collingwood VFL team.
