Scott Pendlebury concedes the rest of his season is in doubt after scans confirmed the Collingwood captain fractured his finger in Saturday's win over Gold Coast.

Pendlebury, 29, was due to have surgery on Monday night, suggesting that he wasn't sure whether he would return in 2017.

"I've broken it up the top. I'll have surgery tonight to put a pin in it," he said on Monday afternoon.

"I'll see what the recovery is from there. We'll have to wait and see."

The silky midfielder says he will be able to maintain his fitness base as his running will not be significantly impacted.

While the Pies are all but eliminated from the finals race, three wins and percentage outside the top eight with six rounds remaining, the injury could prevent Pendlebury from winning a sixth Copeland Trophy, which would tie the record of Collingwood great and current Pies coach Nathan Buckley. Pendlebury has been named the Pies' best and fairest for the last three years.

Pendlebury said he had been hopeful of avoiding a fracture.

"I thought it was dislocated but scans have confirmed it's a break," he said.

"It would be a good result to get back at some stage this year, but it would be speculating to guess."

Pendlebury is almost certain to at least miss the Pies' next match, which comes on Sunday against eighth-placed West Coast at Etihad Stadium.

Out-of-contract at season's end, Buckley has been assured of keeping his job until the completion of Collingwood's campaign.

After the match against the Eagles, the Pies face Adelaide (MCG), North Melbourne (Etihad), Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Geelong (MCG) and Melbourne (MCG).

The Magpies haven't made the finals since 2013, gradually declining under Buckley, who replaced Mick Malthouse as coach at the end of the 2011 season.