COLLINGWOOD utility Nick Maxwell will carry a broken wrist for a third match when his side meets St Kilda in Saturday night's semi final at the MCG.

Maxwell broke his trapezium bone when spoiling a ball in the round-21 win over the Sydney Swans, but managed to get this far without knowledge of his injury escaping the club.

The 25-year-old has been wearing a padded fibreglass guard to protect it.

There hasn't been an inkling of Maxwell's complaint, especially in a resounding performance to shut Adelaide playmaker Scott Thompson out of last weekend's elimination final while also kicking two goals.

"It happened three weeks ago against Sydney," Maxwell revealed to The Age on Saturday.

"I wasn't going to play against Fremantle [in round 22], but on the Wednesday, I thought, 'Stuff that', so I came in here (to the Lexus Centre), saw the doctor, had a brace made up, strapped it up, took a couple of painkillers and got through training OK.

"No-one outside the club [knew] I broke it, but there's no issue keeping it secret because it hasn't changed anything I've done on the field."

Collingwood's perseverance with injuries should also see the Saturday night return of captain Scott Burns from a corked calf, while forward Travis Cloke has emerged from rumours of illness and defender Simon Prestigiacomo has overcome a sore shoulder sustained against the Crows.