NATHAN Buckley admits it's crunch time for Collingwood, describing Friday night's huge clash with Richmond as one that will shape the destiny of both clubs.
Forward Jamie Elliott and forgotten utility Tyson Goldsack are both in the mix to return at the MCG as the fourth-placed Pies, who lead the Tigers only on percentage, look to avoid being leapfrogged by their in-form rivals.
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Elliott and Goldsack both trained well on Wednesday, along with medium-sized defender Matthew Scharenberg.
Nathan Buckley keeps a keen eye on the players during Wednesday's session. Picture: Getty Images
Buckley's men remain firmly in the premiership conversation but their past month has left them looking vulnerable.
Since their mid-season bye, the Pies have lost three games and scraped over the line against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
Darcy Moore's latest soft-tissue setback, Jaidyn Stephenson's gambling suspension and Mason Cox's form slump have all been major blows.
Big American Mason Cox has been below his best in recent weeks. Picture: Getty Images
Moore should return before the end of the season, Stephenson will be back for the finals and the Magpies are backing the 211cm Cox to get back to his best, well aware that he remains a crucial part of their forward structure.
But the stakes remain high on Friday night given the Pies could climb as high as second on the ladder or slip as low as seventh.
"The swings and the margins become fairly clear in focus for what happens for the winner or the loser," Buckley told reporters.
"It is a game that will control and dictate the destiny of both clubs in the next month or so."
The Pies have recently had the wood over their neighbouring rivals, crushing the Tigers in last year's preliminary final then backing it up in round two this season.
But the Tigers have been arguably the form team of the competition over the past month, helped by finally having star forward combination Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt at their disposal.
Premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis could also return from injury to play his first game since round eight.
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Buckley noted his backline had been stretched during last week's heavy loss to GWS in which the Giants deployed a taller than expected forward line.
"We know that Lynch and Riewoldt are working together really well," Buckley said.
"Whether Nankervis comes back in, we think that there'll be another tall forward floating around there somewhere.
"We need to get the mix right for us, first and foremost.
"We can help the backs by slowing the ball use down a little better than we did last week, which is a challenge against Richmond because they do go fast."
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