COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley remains confident Scott Pendlebury will play against St Kilda at the MCG on Friday night.

The 27-year-old had scans on his left ankle on Monday and left the track early as the Magpies trained on Wednesday.

"He moved pretty well, so he's in the mix. He stays in the mix because of what he did today so it was quite encouraging," Buckley said. 

Match preview: Magpies v Saints

"He needs to know in his own mind that he is right to go. He knows his body really well. He is professional in the way he goes about it. If he puts his hand up and ticks a few boxes from our side of things, then he'll play."

Taylor Adams is also in doubt, taking to the track in a moon boot to participate in handball drills with the injured Steele Sidebottom.

Both Pendlebury and Adams will need to prove their fitness at training on Thursday. Should the duo miss the session, the Magpies' midfield would be severely depleted, with Levi Greenwood already out with a fractured ankle. 

Buckley said the club had several candidates to come into the side, with Ben Sinclair's hamstring injury ensuring at least one change to the 22 that lost to Adelaide last Saturday.

Nathan Freeman, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore impressed in a VFL practice match at Victoria Park on Sunday against North Ballarat, and Buckley said they were in the mix for selection.

Buckley ruled out defender Ben Reid, who played in the VFL last week. The coach said the defender was "progressing really well", but needed more game time in the VFL to be considered for senior selection.

Buckley said improving the team's ball use remained a focus after the Magpies butchered the ball against the Crows.

He was pleased with their ability to win contested ball, but said poor disposal let them down.

"We've been working on it all pre-season, so we've prepared to use the ball better," Buckley said.

"We've definitely given our players plenty of opportunity to express themselves and their ball movement. We want to be more bold and creative with our use."

Buckley said Saints' champion Nick Riewoldt was likely to find himself on multiple opponents during the game, with Nathan Brown and Jack Frost both potential match-ups.