Star veteran Tom Hawkins will miss another week with a hamstring injury, while versatile defender Jack Henry (foot) has been ruled out for the season.
Geelong are also still without key premiership pair Mark Blicavs (hamstring) and Cam Guthrie (toe).
The Cats secured a memorable win over Port Adelaide last weekend, but they face another massive challenge against the Magpies on the rebound at the MCG on Friday night.
Geelong need to win at least two of their last three games or they will miss the finals for the first time since 2015.
Neale will come in for the decisive match, more than 12 months after he played the second of his two AFL games when he was sub in round 19, 2022.
Coach Chris Scott was excited by what the 21-year-old could do for the Cats.
"We were really optimistic about what Shannon could do at the start of the season but he just had some bad luck as well and found himself injured at the wrong time," Scott said on Thursday.
"It's been a bit of a frustrating year for him but you can have a frustrating year and come in and have a few big moments at the end and it makes up for all of it."
Scott is hopeful the retirement of Norm Smith medallist Isaac Smith can inspire the Cats to achieve something special against Collingwood.
"When Isaac came (the club) he was able to embody to our players and in particular, our young players, that you can be highly successful, highly competitive and ruthless on the field but also be a relaxed, authentic person off the field and he's never lost that," Scott said.
Collingwood remain premiership favourites, but are coming off two humbling defeats to Carlton and rebuilding Hawthorn.
The ladder-leading Magpies, who downed Geelong in round one, will be without superstar Nick Daicos until finals.
Their midfield will need a reset, after being smashed in centre clearances by the Hawks last Saturday.
A win over Geelong would all but seal Collingwood's first minor premiership since 2011, a year they lost the grand final to the Cats.
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