Where and when: Telstra Dome, Saturday, August 23, 7.10pm
Head to head: Collingwood 132 wins, Sydney Swans 79 wins, one draw
Last time: Collingwood 11.13 (79) d Sydney Swans 6.14 (50), round 14, 2008 at ANZ Stadium

FORM
Collingwood: LLLWW
Sydney Swans: WLLWL

SUMMARY
The last time these two sides met their finals prospects were looking a whole lot firmer. At that stage it was hard to see the Swans falling out of the top four and just as hard to think that Collingwood would fall out of the top eight. Yet only a couple of months later and both sides are still at risk of not making the eight, making this a crucial clash for both teams.

Collingwood has coped remarkably well with the loss of two of its biggest stars in Heath Shaw and Alan Didak and should regain Rhys Shaw for this match. Since the club was forced to suspend its stars, it has had strong wins against St Kilda and Port Adelaide.

The Swans’ recent form line is flattering if anything – while it has won two of its past five games, both wins were by a goal or less and came against Fremantle and Carlton. Worse still is the fact that Collingwood is a side that matches up extremely well against the Swans, having won the last five clashes between the two teams.

KEY MATCH-UP
Travis Cloke v Ted Richards
Travis Cloke had a blinder when these sides last met, taking eight marks (four contested) and kicking 3.3. Last week he was even better in kicking four goals and taking six contested marks, showing he is approaching good form at the right time of the year. Ted Richards, playing his 100th game, is likely to be saddled with the task of trying to keep the big man quiet.

WILDCARDS
Collingwood – Leon Davis
Since the Didak and Shaw suspensions, Davis has really stood up to cover for their absences. In those two weeks he has averaged nine contested possessions and had two of his three highest-possession games for the year.

Sydney Swans – Nick Malceski
It is hard to imagine a tougher match in which to return from injury than one against the Cats. Malceski didn’t fare too badly last week, but will be much better for the run, and looking to regain some of the form he showed earlier this year.

QUESTION MARKS
After last week’s loss to Geelong, the Swans slipped outside the top four for the first time since round 11. Can they make their way back?

Last time these sides met Barry Hall had a brain freeze and attempted to punch Shane Wakelin.Can Hall keep it together this time?

Can the young Pies continue to deliver in the absence of their stars?

BLUFFER'S GUIDE
The Pies have had the wood over the Swans recently, beating them the last five times they have met. The last time the Swans won was by a solitary point. That said the Swans couldn’t have a better time to try to break the hoodoo, with Collingwood fielding a very young and inexperienced team.

Collingwood however has managed to rise from adversity recently and should once more have the Swans measure.

PREDICTION
Collingwood by 18 points.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.