O’Brien, who missed the Pies’ opening round of preseason fixtures after slicing his hand at home, confirmed his availability for Collingwood’s clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on March 3.

O’Brien suffered what coach Nathan Buckley described as a “freak accident” when he put his hand through a pane of glass at home two weeks ago, leaving him with stitches in the little finger of his right hand.

O’Brien missed Saturday night’s opening round of matches against Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs because of the injury, but yesterday the premiership halfback declared he’d be fit for the Pies’ next encounter against the Demons.

“I’ll be fine next week for our round 2 game in the NAB Cup,” O’Brien said at the AFL Community Camp in Wangaratta.

“No problems at all.”

While his return was expected, Collingwood fans will be relieved to hear positive news on the injury front after premiership forward Brent Macaffer went down with a season ending knee injury on Saturday night.

O’Brien, the first Brazilian-born player to play in AFL, said he had enjoyed his first visit to Wangaratta.

“It’s been good,” he said.

“We’ve received a really nice reception. It seems like a nice town.

“This is my eighth community camp but it always makes you happy when you realise the positive influence you can have on people.

“One of the best things you can do in life is to be able to make someone happy.

“We’ve been able to get around and meet a lot of people in the region, a lot of kids, and make them happy.

“I think when you’re giving you actually receive at the same.

“That’s the best thing.”

Despite entering the season as premiership favourites, O’Brien said the 2010 premier had to improve to win its second premiership in three seasons this year.

“Across the board we have to improve in every area,” he said.

“I think with the age of the list we have, we have to improve, otherwise we’re doing something wrong.

“I think to this stage we’ve improved.

“The graph is going in the right direction.”