Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse believes 2009 will become a war of attrition and has predicted 10 wins may be enough for a side to scrape into the AFL top eight.

The injury-hit 'Pies have struggled for consistency this year but got their campaign back on track with a 22-point victory over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Only once has a team snuck into the finals with 10 wins - Brisbane in 1995 - since the introduction of the top-eight system in 1994.

But in a season where several teams - including Collingwood - have already been decimated by injuries, Malthouse believes 10 wins could be the magic number needed to sneak into September action.

"The season - they're not sprints, these seasons are marathons," Malthouse said.

"I'd almost suspect that 10 wins may pinch eighth spot this year.

"There's going to be an attrition rate, it's going to happen.

"I think we've learnt a lot from the intensity of the game in nine weeks and we've lost a few players and most of those players we've lost, outside of a broken leg and a broken cheekbone, have all been players that have had previous leg injuries and history shows that those leg injuries are the first under real duress to go.

"So you've got to be solid, you've got to believe in your system, which we do, and we are part way through a marathon.

"If it was a sprint we would have been in trouble."

Malthouse is confident Paul Medhurst (ankle), Anthony Rocca (knee), Alan Didak (hamstring), Dale Thomas (knee) and Travis Cloke (hamstring) will return over the next fortnight, although the veteran coach is unsure which of those would be ready for Sunday's crunch clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG.

The 'Pies, who moved to within percentage of the top eight following their fourth win of the year, have scored just 24 goals over the past three weeks but Malthouse hopes the team's scoring efficiency will improve with the imminent return of several key forwards.

"The fact is we are still one of the highest sides getting the ball inside 50... but we just haven't been experienced enough to capitalise on the entrances," he said.

"Logic says if you have your leading two or three goal kickers back in the side you are going to be more productive."

Meanwhile, West Coast coach John Worsfold declared he would continue to back the team's youth despite the Eagles slipping to their sixth loss of the season.

"We've got Hansen, Hunter, Stenglein and Fletcher that we could easily bring straight back in (to the senior side) but we are prepared to give some of these kids the opportunity to learn," Worsfold said.

"If they look like they're losing confidence then there's no use keeping them out there, but while they're having a real crack at it (we will back them).

"They will make mistakes, we understand that."

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