Collingwood hope honesty and the steely team-first focus which has served them so well will soften the bad news for the players set to suffer the ultimate heartbreak - missing selection for the AFL grand final.

The Magpies coaching staff bunkered down late on Wednesday for the match committee meeting which will decide the final 22 the club takes into Saturday's grand final against St Kilda.

With virtually a fully fit list to choose from, the Magpies must decide whether to tinker with the line-up which smashed Geelong in last weekend's preliminary final - especially with several experienced players now ready for selection.

Veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo is over a corked thigh which sidelined him in round 20.

He wasn't selected for the preliminary final, but the spectre of St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt needing to be quelled brings the 32-year-old fullback, who has played in two grand finals, into contention for a reprieve.

Unpredictable forward Leon Davis was a late withdrawal from the Geelong victory with hamstring tightness but trained strongly on Wednesday.

And old heads Tarkyn Lockyer, Paul Medhurst and Josh Fraser have the requisite big-match experience yet haven't been able to break into the side during the finals series.

Youngsters Tyson Goldsack, Jarryd Blair and Brent Macaffer have all played well in the march to the grand final, but look the trio most at risk should coach Mick Malthouse and his lieutenants decide to plump for experience.

Grand final teams will be named on Thursday and Magpies assistant coach Scott Watters admits hearts will be broken in the toughest job a coach faces.

"You have to be honest," Watters said about telling players why they've missed out.

"Hopefully you've built up a relationship and a rapport over time which enables you to deliver that honesty with a real degree of care.

"It's a tough decision but you hope you've got that rapport and friendship and respect where the tough decision has to be accepted.

"That's the nature of elite sport. The team comes first as far as selection goes."

Former Magpies champion Nathan Buckley, now an assistant coach, agrees putting the team first is paramount, and admits changes could be made despite the convincing nature of the victory over Geelong.

"Leon, Presti, Tarkyn Lockyer and Paul Medhurst are in the mix," he said.

"They're all guys who've been close in recent times and have all been able to maintain their intensity and their focus on giving the match committee options.

"It's something that's been a big strength of the club through the year.

"We'll make whatever changes are necessary to give us the best chance of winning the game.

"There's going to be some blokes who are going to be bitterly disappointed to miss out.

"In the end, it's what's best for the Collingwood footy club."

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