THE MESSAGE to Chris Bryan from coach Mick Malthouse was simple – just bide your time, keep the pressure on, and your opportunity will come.

For the 25-year-old, season 2008 has so far presented a great amount of frustration. Having been demoted to the VFL in favour of Josh Fraser and newcomer Cameron Wood, Bryan is the first to admit things have been tough.

However, Malthouse encouraged the former Blue to keep his form up while playing in the seconds, as an opportunity to slot into the big side was always only one week away.

It came in round eight. Fraser hurt his knee in the Hall of Fame Tribute match and was sidelined, and then Wood was directed to spend some time in the seconds after a dip in form. 

Now, Bryan knows it's up to him to "make sure they can't drop me" after holding his spot for two weeks.

"I had a great pre-season and I was the fittest I've ever been, but with 'Woody' coming down, I became third in line and just had to wait my turn," Bryan told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"I've spoken to Mick throughout the year and early on about what more do I need to do, and he said, 'You're doing everything fine, you're competing well, you're following up, you're getting a lot of the ball and you're kicking goals'.

"He said to just keep doing it and keep the pressure on, and my time would come. That's probably what added to the frustration - that there wasn't much more I needed to do."

Bryan is optimistic the Magpies' structure will one day include room for the three big men to play together, but is worried the side could become too top-heavy if they did.

"I hope we can [play together], because I enjoy playing with 'Frase' and 'Woody' is obviously a good tap ruckman. If we can rotate somehow out of the forward pocket, (then) maybe," he said.

Bryan believes he has come back into the side at a good time with the Pies having knocked off their past two opponents in St Kilda and Geelong while showing genuine signs for the first time this season.

He has also returned just in time to face West Coast, nearly eight months on from the night Bryan booted a pivotal goal in the Magpies' extra-time semi-final win over the Eagles at Subiaco.

"The boys' performance has probably been up and down, and to come back in and have a couple of good wins against St Kilda, where we had to battle it out, and then against the reigning premiers, it's been really good," he said.

"And now we've got West Coast, and you think back to the semi-final last year and what a good game that was. They obviously played really well on the weekend with the kids they've got coming through, and I think it should be a good game."