Collingwood will be emulate Hawthorn and turn their AFL season around in Perth when they tackle West Coast at Subiaco on Saturday night.

The Hawks beat Fremantle last Friday night in Perth to keep their premiership defence alive.

The Magpies arrive in the west with just a 3-5 record (the same as the Eagles) and also without key players Alan Didak, Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and Travis Cloke.

Hampering their efforts, the Eagles' injury news has been better with Daniel Kerr returning after missing last week's tight loss to Sydney.

At least the Magpies can welcome back ruckman Josh Fraser to take on Eagles big man Dean Cox.

Magpies' Leon Davis didn't get the welcome home to Perth he was after with the wet and wild weather on Friday, but is looking forward to leading the way in the AFL's Indigenous round.

The Eagles are also using the game as a chance to raise awareness and funds for the David Wirrpanda Foundation, and Davis almost felt he needed one of the scarves that will be sold at the match.

"If the weather was a bit better it would have been beautiful, but to come back to Perth is good for me personally and to play away from Melbourne is good for us. We get away as a tight unit ready to play," Davis said.

"This is very important. We are sitting at 3-5 at the moment and to come across here as a unit to play a team that lost to a good side in Sydney last week is a big test. We have to come with our A-game to try and get a win."

Even though he might spend time playing on Davis, Wirrpanda will put that out of his mind and try to help the Eagles to a win that could take them into the eight.

"It is a significant moment for Indigenous players and draws a lot to us as players and the impact sport has for Indigenous people all around Australia is magnificent. It's always difficult to play against the brother boy, but you have to deal with," Wirrpanda said.

"Our big loss to them last year doesn't matter and neither does Collingwood's record over here; we know that they are a very proud football club. The way they play is first class and we have to match that at 100 per cent or we will fail to get the four points."

Davis has also thrown his support behind besieged coach Mick Malthouse after playing under him his whole career since being drafted from WAFL club Perth in 1999.

"If anyone knows Mick, you'd know that he takes it all in his stride and loves a challenge. He's right to go. I don't take notice of it and just do what the coach says," he said.

"He got to Collingwood the same time I got drafted, so we've been there the same amount of time and he's been great, so hopefully he can stay."

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