Where and when: MCG, Saturday July 24, 2.10pm
Head to head: Collingwood 111 wins, Richmond 84 wins, 1 draw
Last time: Collingwood 22.20 (152) d Richmond 8.11 (59), round 20, 2009 at the MCG

MISSING IN ACTION
Collingwood
Travis Cloke (suspension) - 1 week
Anthony Corrie (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Brad Dick (shoulder) - test
Nick Maxwell (calf) - test

Richmond
Trent Cotchin (suspension) - 4 weeks
Matt Dea (foot) - indefinite
Nathan Foley (leg) - season
Ben Griffiths (shoulder) - season
Tom Hislop (patella) - indefinite
Jordan McMahon (ankle) - 1-2 weeks
Ben Nason (soreness) - test
Adam Thompson (groin) - season
Will Thursfield (concussion) - test

FORM
Collingwood: DWWWW
Richmond: WWWWL

SUMMARY
While Richmond has improved significantly in recent weeks, there is still a massive gulf in talent between these two clubs, and that should show on Saturday.

Collingwood is flying, having taken top spot thanks to their dominant display against St Kilda last week. The Pies weren’t tipped by many to beat the Saints, and produced a performance that made Ross Lyon’s men look unusually second-rate. Mick Malthouse’s team wasn’t even at full strength, with skipper Nick Maxwell (calf), Brad Dick (shoulder) and Travis Cloke (suspension) missing from that side, while the likes of Paul Medhurst, Shane O’Bree and Josh Fraser are in the VFL, but offer plenty of depth if needed. The Pies have contributors across the board and, like most teams coached by Malthouse, each man knows his role and sticks to it.

Richmond crashed back to earth with a bit of a thud last week, its run of four straight wins ending at the hands of North Melbourne. Whether the young Tigers are tiring, or whether a damp day at the MCG against some of North’s harder bodies got the better of them, is unknown. Nevertheless, the 50-point margin would have disappointed coach Damien Hardwick. One would expect a fiercer Tigers line-up this week, but it’ll be a tough task without Trent Cotchin (suspended for four weeks) against one of the more even and talented midfield groups in the AFL.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Collingwood veteran Simon Prestigiacomo doesn’t say a lot, but his actions speak louder than words. After taking care of one Riewoldt last week, he is likely to get first crack at another this week when his team meets in-form Tiger Jack. ‘Presti’ plays one-on-one football as well as any defender, but will be tested by the new kid on the block.

Richmond firebrand Jake King was at the centre of the brouhaha when these two teams met in round 20 last year. He had his number taken for striking Alan Didak and was happy to stir the pot throughout a spiteful afternoon. With his side again seemingly outgunned for talent, King is certain to throw his weight around.

QUESTION MARKS
It’s tough to get a game at the Pies. Names such as Medhurst, Fraser, Anthony, O’Bree and Brown are all awaiting their chance. With competition for spots so fierce, will any Pies falter in the run to September?

The Tigers were belted in round 20 last year. Damien Hardwick wasn’t in charge back then, but his players will clearly remember that day - and the men who embarrassed them in black and white stripes. Will emotions again boil over, or will Hardwick’s temperament ensure a calmer, more focused Richmond outfit?

In recent years, Collingwood has had a tendency to drop matches against teams you would think it should easily beat. Perhaps the loss to the Brisbane Lions aside, that flaw hasn’t really been the case this year. Are the Magpies of 2010 a different breed?

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY?
As good as the Tigers have been over the past six weeks, they simply aren’t anywhere near Collingwood in terms of talent. They may be able to muster a challenge for a quarter or two, but the Pies’ intensity and pressure will wear them down.

One feels Richmond needs a bag from Riewoldt, Ben Cousins back in his prime and its other stars having ball-bursters to be any chance.

The great thing about Mick Malthouse’s side is it doesn’t rely on a big game from any one person, The Pies are just so even, sharing their goal kickers and covering for each other in defence.

PREDICTION
Collingwood by 45 points.

Chat with host Jen Witham and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 12.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflpiestigers

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.