The Kangaroos turned to their famed Shinboner spirit for another extraordinary come-from-behind AFL victory over Collingwood on Sunday that kept their double-chance hopes alive.

But coach Dean Laidley was the first to admit his fifth-placed side could not afford to roll the dice again next week in the heavyweight stoush against third-ranked St Kilda.

"I congratulated them for keeping at it, but we did have some guys who were up and down today, we didn't get the consistent effort, which we need to keep working on," he said after the Kangaroos kicked four goals in the last six minutes to beat Collingwood 15.14 (104) to 14.14 (98) at Telstra Dome.

It came a week after the `Roos had reeled in a 40-point deficit to edge out reigning premier Port Adelaide.

"... Now we come up against a St Kilda team next Saturday who are red-hot, the form team in the competition along with the Bulldogs," said Laidley.

"So we'll have to play at our very best and there won't be any sort of last hurrah comebacks against the Saints, let me tell you, because they are too good."

And the excitement won't stop there for the Kangaroos as their penultimate home and away game involves a trip to Sydney, the other team involved in the three-way battle for third and fourth spots behind runaway pacesetters West Coast and Adelaide.

"I like teams that play finals football through the year," said Sunday's beaten Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse.

"I reckon there's some that will get through on just great natural ability and they will occupy certain positions on the ladder.

"There are others, like Sydney and (the Kangaroos), who play a brand of football that is uncompromising, Adelaide to a certain degree, play that role to win football matches and don't have to change for the finals series."

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