STEELE Sidebottom was a bit of a shy kid early in his career, who saw all the meetings and the extra responsibility.

No, the Collingwood leadership group wasn't for him.

Now in his fourth year with that role, Sidebottom is forever grateful that Magpies premiership captain Nick Maxwell talked him around.

With captain Scott Pendlebury recovering from finger surgery, Sidebottom, Taylor Adams and new leadership group addition Jeremy Howe will share the load in Sunday's match against West Coast.

It is a responsibility that Sidebottom now relishes in his ninth season.

Sidebottom's teammates had voted him onto the group in 2014 when Maxwell got in his ear.

"I just remember talking to Maxy and he said 'I think it will be the best thing for you'," Sidebottom told AAP.

"I'm glad Maxy had that chat with me.

"Not just my footy but the way I carry myself away from the club, it definitely changed me.

"I'm definitely grateful.

"Obviously first that I was voted in but I'm glad I eventually made the decision that I wanted to join it, because it's been awesome since."

The role clearly agrees with Sidebottom, who is one of Collingwood's top midfielders and has played every game this season to take his total to 179.

He said nothing much would change for himself, Adams and Howe, except that one of them will toss the coin.

"Obviously we're going to have to fill in for stuff he (Pendlebury) does on the field, in terms of the footy," Sidebottom said.

"But in the build-up to the game, quarter-time, half-time, those things, we're a pretty good group at addressing the issues, what we need to do."

Collingwood are languishing in 14th with only six wins.

While all the talk outside the club is coach Nathan Buckley's future, for Sidebottom there is a frustration that they should be doing better.

For the eighth-placed Eagles, they are trying to shake their reputation for underperforming in Melbourne.

West Coast's last visit to Etihad Stadium three weeks ago was an outstanding win over Western Bulldogs, but the Pies are not without a shot.

"We need to sharpen up some areas and we still have six weeks to go," Sidebottom said.

"There's no reason we can't win all six games.

"Hopefully we get the bad West Coast this week, which would be nice.

"But we prepare for their best, (which is) as good as anyone's."