Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has backed his veteran full-back Simon Prestigiacomo to hit back strongly in Saturday night's knockout semi-final clash against Adelaide after this year's All-Australian contender lowered his colours against St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt last week.

Prestigiacomo has remarkably produced his best AFL season at the age of 31 and in his 14th year at the top level in 2009, just a year after his career looked to be over after he played just two games last season due to foot and groin injuries.

But against the Saints in last week's qualifying final he produced his worst performance of a stellar season as he had to be moved off the Saints' inspirational skipper, who booted five goals in a best afield performance to send his team into the preliminary final.

The Pies now have to back up after only a six-day break compared to the Crows' eight in this week's semi and Prestigiacomo - who could be selected in this year's All-Australian team for the first time after making the list of 40 candidates announced last week - faces another huge challenge in combating Crows young gun Kurt Tippett.

But Malthouse, an unabashed fan of Prestigiacomo, is convinced his popular full-back will rebound strongly this week.

"Presty lowered his colours (against Riewoldt) and it was the worst game he has played this season," Malthouse said.

"But he was up against a quality opponent but he didn't play him well and Simon acknowledged that in our brief after the game."

"But I wouldn't expect him to play that poorly again."

"He has been a wonderful servant of the football club and he will better this week."

Prestigiamcomo's inability to shut down Riewoldt meant the Pies eventually had to shift captain Nick Maxwell onto to him, which in turn cost the Pies in other areas.

"That robbed us of Maxwell's ability to play the way he does and we were playing catch-up," Malthouse said.

Meanwhile the Pies remain unconcerned over the prospect of conceding two fewer days' preparation to the in-form Crows on Saturday night, despite going in as the higher-ranked team.

Collingwood football operations manager Geoff Walsh said the Pies - who will be without star midfielder Scott Pendlebury (cracked fibula) and probably veteran forward Anthony Rocca (ankle) for the clash - were prepared to cop the scheduling on the chin.

"Footy is footy, you play on a six-day, seven-day, eight-day turnaround and maybe Adelaide earned that right (to a longer break) by winning (in week of the finals) while we lost," Walsh said.

"So we won't lose any sleep over it."