COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has demanded his team lift its work rate to match a resurgent Hawthorn in their Sunday blockbuster at the MCG, as important small forward Jamie Elliott gets set to return.

After a positive six weeks the Magpies fell away against Port Adelaide, and Buckley said they would need to show more hunger to topple the Hawks, who had their best win of the season against pace-setters Adelaide.

"Our strength around the contest wasn't where the game was won or lost, it was our work-rate around the ground, and they (Port Adelaide) worked far harder than us in transitions," Buckley said on Thursday.

"We're coming up against a Hawks side who have had their best win, and they're generally a side who have been the strongest at transition for a long time.

"Their ball use is up and about, their team defence has gone from strength to strength.

"The work rate that we didn't display against Port for long enough and were shown up in is something that's going to be important for us."

With Collingwood sitting 13th on the ladder and the Hawks surprisingly back in 16th, it's likely curtains on the finals for the losing team, however that wasn't something that Buckley was considering.

"I'm not even contemplating losing," he said.

Helping the Magpies' cause is the return from injury of Elliott, who kicked three goals in their round-nine 18-point win, their first over Hawthorn since 2011.

He has kicked 20 goals in just eight matches this season, after missing all of 2016 with a back injury.

Defender Josh Smith is out with hamstring tightness, with the club hopeful he will only miss a week, while midfielder Travis Varcoe is returning through the VFL.

In their early-season encounter the Hawks got off to a flyer, leading by 36 points at quarter-time and 34 at the main break, but Collingwood kicked nine goals to one in the second half.

"They bested us early in that transitional game, really good defence, and they took their chances going forward," Buckley said.

"There's a fair bit that changes in six weeks, so we'll have our plans and see how they stack up."