BRODIE HOLLAND has hinted Collingwood may have decided its captain for season 2008.

Holland told radio station SEN that Nick Maxwell and Josh Fraser sat either side of coach Mick Malthouse for the official team photo this week.

The captain and his deputy traditionally sit next to the senior coach in the photo, suggesting Maxwell and Fraser are vying for the prestigious honour at the Magpies.

"It will be interesting to see what happens, it's a tough call," Holland said.

Football operations manager Geoff Walsh confirmed Collingwood's captain will be announced soon.

"It could be as early as next week but maybe after the last practice match," Walsh said.

There is plenty of interest in who will captain Collingwood, with Nathan Buckley retiring last season after nine years in the role.

Sportsbet has suspended betting on the captaincy after punters laid heavily on Fraser, whose odds shortened from $5 to $1.80 more than a fortnight ago.

Fraser and Maxwell appear to have beaten Tarkyn Lockyer, who was the stand-in captain for the Magpies against Adelaide in their NAB Cup opener in Dubai, veteran Scott Burns and rising stars Scott Pendlebury and Heath Shaw.

St Kilda and Port Adelaide are the only other clubs not to have officially named their captains for the coming season.