COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON

Venue: MCG

Date: Friday, April 25

Time: 2.40pm

Head.to.head: Collingwood 116, Essendon 96, drawn four

Last.time: Collingwood 18.14 (122) d Essendon 14.9 (93) round 16, 2007, MCG

Betting: TABSportsbet: Collingwood $1.47 Essendon $2.60. Centrebet: Collingwood $1.52 Essendon $2.55

Summary: Both sides are having problems with their top forwards – Collingwood desperately needs Anthony Rocca to fire up for this game while the Bombers' Matthew Lloyd, who was held goalless again last week, badly needs to regain top form. Once again the 250th game of Collingwood captain Scott Burns is on hold while injury has also struck on-baller Brodie Holland, whose Achilles problem has resurfaced. Both sides have lost their past two while Collingwood are going into the blockbuster on a five-day break. The Bombers have tried to compensate for Lloyd's worries by including big key forward Courtney Johns, but their main problem will be trying to maintain their best – which is good – over four quarters.

Key: A return to form by Rocca would be the icing on the cake for the Magpies. But they look to have the edge in multiple scoring options through the likes of Travis Cloke, Dale Thomas, Paul Medhurst and Alan Didak.

Tip: Collingwood by 20 points