MIDFIELDER Tarkyn Lockyer cannot pick a frontrunner in Collingwood's race to appoint a captain, believing there are plenty of worthy replacements for Scott Burns.

Lockyer, 29, was the Magpies' deputy vice-captain in 2008 following the appointment of a five-man leadership group after Nathan Buckley's retirement.

For the second time in as many years, the Pies must name a new skipper over summer and Lockyer said while some players are more likely than others, the club could still choose a "smokey".

"We've probably got half-a-dozen guys that really do lead the club in a way, and I wouldn't be surprised if any one of those guys were to be named captain," he told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"From that regard, there isn't one person that stands out above the others. Each guy brings different cards to the table, has different strengths and weaknesses, and we complement each other as well.

"You're going to see the guys that you generally expect, your Josh Frasers, your Nick Maxwells and those types of guys, but then it will depend on which way the football club wants to go.

"You never know – they might pull a Scott Pendlebury or a Travis Cloke, or a Dale Thomas or a Dane Swan or someone like that into the mix.

"They could potentially lead the club for the next seven or eight years, so depending on which way Mick (Malthouse) wants to go and where he sees the club is at will depend on which decision he makes.

"We're blessed because there doesn't seem to be a standout with which way we're going to go."

The Magpies are currently 12 days into their annual high-altitude training camp in Arizona, and have been physically tested in a range of team-building and fitness-oriented activities.

Lockyer said the environment provides a good opportunity for potential leaders to demonstrate their wares.

"It's a good trip for that. It's basically just good to get away from Melbourne and break up the pre-season," he said.

"You stay in Melbourne and you do your training day in, day out at the club and it gets a bit monotonous after a while.

"For the guys to get over here and purely focus on football, it lets the guys go about their business and the leadership kind of takes care of itself.

"We'll definitely go through the same process again this year that we did last year where we get the guys to nominate to be in the leadership group, and it's up to Mick and the match committee to formulate who they believe will be the captain and the vice-captains.

"From that regard at the moment, we've got quite a few guys who can step into that role easily."

Lockyer has nominated for the leadership group, and said he would love to be given the opportunity to lead his club after several years in a support role.

"It would be a great honour and something that I aspire to do, otherwise I wouldn't put my name up there," he said. "[And] it's great to have a lot of competition.

"Also the fact that we don't have any really genuine stand-outs is great for the club, and it puts the onus back on everyone to contribute."