Collingwood's plans for the early part of the AFL season, let alone this weekend's Wizard Cup quarter-final, have been thrown into confusion by a knee injury to Guy Richards and trouble for Chris Tarrant.

Richards, earmarked to share ruck duties with Josh Fraser in 2005, has broken down with a posterior cruciate knee ligament injury.

Full-forward Tarrant will also miss the rest of the pre-season due to a groin and back complaint.

Richards will undergo surgery on his knee, with PCL injuries typically sidelining players for periods from 6-12 weeks.

"The poor kid has had everything," coach Mick Malthouse said.

"He had his kidney fixed up, then he did his knee and unfortunately he did a posterior cruciate last week."

The Magpies were hoping they could manage Tarrant for a return by round one of the premiership season.

"He's been sore in the back and groin, he just can't get any power," Malthouse said.

"We'll just have to monitor him over the next few weeks to see how he comes up."

The loss of the pair extended the Magpies injury worries, with captain Nathan Buckley suffering a hamstring tear that had him in doubt for round one.

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