Injuries and suspension will leave Collingwood vulnerable for Friday night's AFL season opener against Richmond at the MCG.

The Magpies will have seven changes from the side which lost to Brisbane in last year's grand final.

Scott Burns and Paul Licuria will miss through suspension, Josh Fraser and Simon Prestigiacomo did not come up from ankle injuries suffered in the Wizard Cup grand final loss to Adelaide and Glenn Freeborn (Achilles tendon) is not yet ready.

Nick Davis also went to Sydney and Carl Steinfort retired.

The Magpies decided on Wednesday not to risk key position players Fraser and Prestigiacomo.

"They needed another week, they're four or five days shy," said Collingwood football operations manager Mark Kleiman.

He added there was no point taking risks with injuries at the start of the season.

"With ankles, you've got to be very careful," he said.

Collingwood will blood rookies Matthew Lokan (Port Adelaide) and Tristan Walker (Claremont), while 2001 Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin (Melbourne) and former West Coast player Andrew Williams will make their regular-season debuts in black and white.

Woewodin was confirmed only after partner Deanne gave birth to son Taj.

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