SUSPENDED Collingwood star Heath Shaw says the Magpies are better placed to win the premiership this year compared to 2010, where they won their first flag in two decades.

Shaw told Melbourne radio station 3AW that Collingwood is better equipped to thrive in the 2011 finals despite injuries affecting the side.

“I think we’ve shown throughout the year that guys have come in to the team and played their role,” Shaw said.

“[In] the last month or two we’ve had a lot of guys out [of the side] and we’ve still been able to win games.

“We’ve even managed to blood four or five first-gamers which really gives a boost to the group.”

The AFL punished the Pies' defender with an eight-game suspension for betting on the first goal kicker in Collingwood's match against Adelaide in round nine, meaning Shaw is unable to play until week one of the finals.

While the Magpies are seen by many as favourites to achieve back-to-back premierships, the status of coach Mick Malthouse continues to be a source of speculation as the finals loom.

Malthouse is contracted for the role of director of coaching at the club next year after agreeing to step aside at the start of next season to allow club champion Nathan Buckley to assume the senior coaching reins.

Shaw admitted Malthouse’s future has been a slight distraction for the playing group.

“It’s probably been a bit of a distraction during the week, but come game day you’re not really worried about all of that stuff,” he said.

“I think it was a just a little bit of confusion and indecision about what was going, but we got told a couple of months ago that everything was going ahead as planned.

“I think the confusion was that it kept on being brought up, whether Mick was going to be there or whether he wasn’t, and that he was linked to other clubs.

“That sort of puts a little bit of doubt in your mind, but I’m pretty confident he’ll be there next year.”

To ensure he was primed to return to the line-up come finals time, Shaw recently paid his own way to Arizona for a gruelling 10-day high altitude training camp. He hopes the focus on training will be a major benefit in the long run.

“Hopefully it does give me an advantage, getting down to the business end [of the season] and finals, and hopefully I’m cherry ripe and ready to run over the top of a couple of people,” Shaw said.

“I think the Arizona trip has really helped my cause. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.”

Shaw said maintaining his fitness levels would be a focus with the finals just a fortnight away.

“I think I’ve dropped five kilos in six weeks,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m sore on the weekend because I’m not playing, so I can keep doing my cardio stuff day in, day out and get the miles in to my legs.

“If Mick picks me [in the finals], I’m confident I’m ready to go.”