COLLINGWOOD forward Paul Medhurst’s return to the senior side has been halted as a result of good performances from teammates Brad Dick and Alan Didak.

Dick and Didak’s form in previous weeks has further cemented their spots in Collingwood’s 22, with Medhurst struggling to force his way back into the senior side after injuring his ankle in round six.

Coach Mick Malthouse said that while Medhurst was training extremely well, he was not guaranteed a spot in the side.

“He just hasn’t been able to force his way back in,” Malthouse said on Friday from the Lexus Centre. “Early on it was because he had three or four weeks out.

“He’s been back training and training well. But he’s not going to replace Dick and he’s not replacing Didak.

“He’s not replacing players who play in a similar position because there’s no automatic selection for anyone. When his form is better than those around him and there’s an availability... he gets into the side.

“We’re not going to accommodate him by saying ‘well one’s more experienced than the other or one’s better than the other.”

Collingwood’s dumping of Martin Clarke, Steele Sidebottom and Cameron Wood for Saturday’s game at the MCG against Fremantle, has also sounded a warning to the rest of the side, that no player is a selection certainty.

“We’ve got to keep pressure on players and pick the best side that’s appropriate for the opposition,” Malthouse said.

“Form is the most important thing and that’s why we have made changes this week. We feel players that have come into the side have got form and players who have fallen out of the side have just trailed off marginally.”

Wood’s omission means Josh Fraser will go head-to-head with Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands, a task that Malthouse admits will be challenging.

“He’s almost immovable and he’s got 211cm of height, so how do you get near him? It’s a battle for two ruckmen and we’ve just selected to go with Josh,” Malthouse said.