Paul Medhurst was a notable absentee from Collingwood's training on Sunday, potentially adding to their forward woes for the Monday night AFL clash against St Kilda.

Medhurst hurt his ankle against North Melbourne last week and was limping with his arm around a trainer in the rooms after the game.

The Magpies are already without John Anthony, who is suspended, against easily the best defensive team so far this season.

While St Kilda are unbeaten, Collingwood are among seven teams on three wins.

"We'll give him an assessment (Monday) rather than train him (on Sunday), we don't play until (Monday) night," said Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh.

"We think he'll be alright, we'll just give him a bit of a runaround (on Monday)."

But Collingwood will regain key forward Anthony Rocca as well as defender Heath Shaw as they try to break the Saints' unbeaten run at the start of this season.

"Jack is a big loss, he's been in pretty good form this year, but also Anthony comes into the side," Collingwood onballer Shane O'Bree said.

"Many teams, when they come up against Collingwood, they see Anthony in our side and I think any backline fears him.

"He might not be getting as many possessions as what he'd like, (but) he always creates a contest - he's good against St Kilda."

It was noticeable on Saturday that Magpies coach Mick Malthouse praised the Saints in his weekly newspaper column.

Since he started coaching at Footscray in 1984, that has often been a bad sign for an upcoming opponent, especially when Malthouse's side is the underdog.

"We're primed for a big one because the Saints haven't had a loss this year and they're in such good form," O'Bree said.

"It's just a great opportunity to see where we're at - all year, we've been in games and we could have won all (our) games.

"We've let ourselves down, everyone knows that and it's a matter of proving ourselves (Monday) night and we're just after a consistent effort, all game."

Collingwood will go into the only Monday night game of the year well-rested, having enjoyed a 10-day break since their easy round-six win over North Melbourne.

O'Bree said the Magpies had been careful to make the most of the extended gap between the games.

"It's been extra-long for us, all week long it's been a focus not to play your game before it comes and get yourself right for Monday night," he said.

The two teams have announced major contract extensions in the lead-up to this game, with All Australian Sam Fisher committing to the Saints until the end of the 2012 season.

Shaw has also signed until the end of 2012 and livewire utility Dale Thomas stays at Collingwood at least to the end of 2011.

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