BEN REID will be discussed by Collingwood's match committee for this Saturday's game against Melbourne at the MCG, but coach Nathan Buckley is still unsure whether the key forward is ready to play senior football.

Reid kicked three goals, to go with 15 disposals, in the VFL at the weekend after having not played for nearly a month due to a setback pertaining to his susceptibility to soft tissue injuries.

"He got through the game which was the first port of call. We will discuss him as the week plays out, starting this afternoon," Buckley said at the Westpac Centre on Tuesday morning.

"My gut feel is that he's going to need more footy, but we'll make that call later in the week."

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The 2011 All Australian has not played a senior game this season and his last match, his 99^th, remains the round 21 meeting with the Brisbane Lions at the MCG last season.

Buckley also ruled out forwards Jamie Elliott (back) and Travis Cloke (calf) for the match-up with the Demons.

However, Collingwood will regain midfielder Taylor Adams who has served his two-week suspension.

Collingwood has dropped five games in a row and, despite reasonable form against some of the competition's top sides, the Magpies find themselves in 11th position on the ladder.

Buckley indicated that in the recent losses to West Coast and the Western Bulldogs his side had gone away from the style of play that makes it hard to beat.

"Our brand is contest and defence first, and offence off the back of it," Buckley said

"It won't be surprising anyone to say that's where our focus is. At our best we're very hard to get (the ball) through when we setup defensively and bring heat on the ball.

"When we play really solid team defence we're pretty hard to beat."

The Magpies return to the MCG for the first time since facing Hawthorn in round 14 and Buckley implied the dimensions of that venue, as opposed to Etihad Stadium, suits how his team structures up.

"We've been easier to play against in the last couple of weeks and it's coincided a little bit with Etihad; it's a faster track.

"It asks your team defence to be sharper and I think what it's shown is that we're still developing our ability to maintain our shape and the detail in the way we defend against the best offences on the fastest tracks."  

Buckley ruled out forwards Jamie Elliott (back) and Travis Cloke (calf) for the match-up with the Demons.

However, Collingwood will regain Taylor Adams for the game against the Demons after the midfielder completed a two-week suspension.

"We've played some good footy, but ultimately haven't got over the line," Buckley said.

"We lower our eyes and focus on Melbourne on Saturday and it's an opportunity for us to get back to playing four quarters of our best footy."