COLLINGWOOD is hoping to shake off some negative headlines and a shock loss to Fremantle when it takes on the lowly Sydney Swans at 5.40pm AEST today.
The game is the first of a Thursday night double-header, with Gold Coast and St Kilda facing off at Metricon Stadium at 8.10pm AEST.
FOLLOW IT LIVE Swans v Pies
The Pies are surprisingly 10th on the ladder after being touted as a flag fancy earlier in the season.
THE LADDER Where is your team sitting?
Sydney is second last on the ladder and fielding a very inexperienced team due to injuries to several star players including Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Isaac Heeney.
The Swans made four changes for the clash at the Gabba, dropping Ryan Clarke, Lewis Taylor, Nick Blakey and Sam Gray.
THE FULL INJURY LIST Who is racing the clock?
Sam Wicks (a small forward out of the Swans' Academy) comes into the team for his AFL debut, and first-round draft pick Dylan Stephens and defensive duo Jackson Thurlow and Lewis Melican return.
Collingwood dropped three players (Chris Mayne, Mark Keane and Darcy Cameron) while Travis Varcoe is out for personal reasons.
FULL TEAMS Check 'em out
Trey Ruscoe, pick No.55 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, comes in for his debut, joined by veteran Ben Reid, Jordan Roughead and Callum Brown. It means there is still no room for the out-of-favour Mason Cox.
