The Selkirk Roosters will continue to monitor Stephenson for back soreness in what looms as his first Victorian Football League with the Roosters since leaving the club for an AFL career at the end of the 2011 season.

Stephenson, 32, returned to Eureka Stadium in the off-season after two years with Richmond (2013-14) and one with Geelong (2012), playing 15 AFL games.

He was a late withdrawal from the Roosters’ final practice match on Saturday.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald confirmed forward James Keeble had sustained a medial ligament strain and midfield-forward duo Lachie George (groin) and Andrew Hooper (shoulder) had pulled up well in recovery early this week.

FitzGerald said the Roosters were not wasting any time in the eight-day turnaround between a practice match with Collingwood and return match against the Magpies for a VFL season-opener at Eureka Stadium on Sunday.

“It suits both parties to play each other two weeks in a row,” FitzGerald said.

“We get a chance to fix things we need to against them and

it’s the same for them – it will come down to who uses this situation best.

“We had a terrific match review that reinforced our learning points.

“...Collingwood had far too much uncontested ball after half-time but our solutions to the problem are good and it gives us something to focus on going into the opening round.”

The Roosters will have an intense training session with match play at Eureka Stadium on Wednesday night.

Play against Collingwood will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday with a strong Magpie supporter contingent expected.