VENUE & TIME: MCG, Sunday 23 August, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 214: Collingwood 134, Sydney 79, Draws 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Sydney 9.12 (66) at ANZ Stadium Round 12, 2009

WALKING WOUNDED: The Pies are at full strength except for number one ruckman Josh Fraser (knee) and defender Tyson Goldsack (Achilles tendonitis) and both these players could return this week. The only other big name Collingwood player that has not been playing is Anthony Rocca but he has been making steady progress in his VFL return but faces a tough battle to win a spot in the side. The Swans will be hoping Luke Ablett comes up after copping a knock to his knee last week while veteran Jared Crouch could return from a corked thigh. But Craig Bird (shoulder), Amon Buchanan (knee), Jarrad McVeigh (hamstring), Brett Meredith (broken arm), Henry Playfair (hamstring) and Ted Richards (punctured lung) are gone for the rest of the season.

FORM: The Pies are in the in-form team in the AFL right now with 11 wins from their past 12 matches and they are coming off their biggest win of the season - a 93 point demolition of Richmond at the MCG last Saturday. And another win here will guarantee the Pies a top four finish and the double chance in the finals. The Swans still have a mathematical chance of making the finals but even though they look set to miss the September action for the first time since 2002, Paul Roos' team has been in good form in the past month with two wins as well as two heartbreaking losses by less than a goal to the AFL's top two teams in Geelong and St Kilda.

WHO'S HOT: Dayne Beams has enjoyed an excellent debut season for the Magpies and was rewarded with a new contract this week. The 19-year-old, who was the Pies' second round draft pick last season, has played 14 games and has averaged a healthy 18.5 possessions and a goal per game. And last week against Richmond he produced his best performance yet with 30 touches and a goal in the Pies' huge win. For the Swans, running defender Rhyce Shaw will be desperate to produce a big one here. The former Collingwood player, the brother of Magpies' star Heath, has enjoyed his best ever season in his debut year with the Swans in playing every game and averaging more than 24 disposals. He was superb against Geelong last week with 25 touches.

WE THINK: Collingwood is not only the in-form team of the AFL right now but is enjoying its best run of success against the Swans since it won eight matches in a row against them in the first half of the 1990's. The Pies have won their last seven games against the Swans, with their last loss being in 2005, with this clash being their first at the MCG since the Pies easily won the 2007 elimination final. And it's hard to see the Pies' recent dominance of the Swans coming to an end here. The Pies are virtually at full-strength and have a top four spot to sew up while the injury-hit Swans, although gallant in recent weeks, need a miracle to make the finals. Collingwood by 36 points.