Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell and small forward Paul Medhurst could return to strengthen the side for Saturday's big clash with St Kilda at the MCG.

Magpies vice-captain Scott Pendlebury said if Maxwell can prove he is over a calf injury he was poised to be included.

And he said Medhurst was in the side's best 22 when in top form.

"He played really well on the weekend, I went down there and watched and he was very good," Pendlebury said on Wednesday.

"All the things that he's known for, he delivered on the weekend so he'll be in the mix.

"If he gets his body right and his confidence up no doubt that he is in our best 22."

Pendlebury said Maxwell was "likely" to be back but the club has adopted a conservative approach to his recovery.

"We've been pretty cautious with him, a soft tissue injury at this stage of the year you don't want to push them too hard," he said.

"He's done everything right so far, we've got two (training) sessions to go so it's probably likely."

The Magpies will be missing Travis Cloke due to suspension for striking but Pendlebury feels his absence can be covered, possibly by ruck-forward Josh Fraser.

"I think Trav is a bit disappointed in himself," he said.

"It would have been nice to have him but he's not going to be out there.

"But we've got good depth and I'm sure someone will come in and play a role for the side.

"I think Josh is in the mix and there's a few others as well in the VFL and even guys in the AFL that are capable of playing that role."

The Magpies have lost their past four games against St Kilda but Pendlebury said the side would press on with their usual game plan.

"I think we've definitely had our chances in those games so it's not like we've been blown out of the water and this week will be no different," Pendlebury said.

"I think as we have all year we back our midfield to stand up and play the way we want to play and obviously we don't want to change too much just because we play St Kilda."

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