VENUE & TIME: MCG, 2.40pm AEST Friday 25 April

HEAD TO HEAD: Wins: Collingwood - 116, Essendon - 96, Draws - 4

LAST TIME: Collingwood 18.14 (122) def Essendon 14.9 (93), Round 16, 2007 at the MCG

WALKING WOUNDED: Collingwood's official injury list: Nick Maxwell (suspension) - available, Scott Burns (calf) - test, Jaxson Barham (shoulder) - test, Alan Toovey (shoulder) - 2-3 weeks, Simon Prestigiacomo (foot) - 4-6 weeks, Sean Rusling (shoulder) - season, Brad Dick (knee) - season. Essendon's official injury list: Tom Hislop (wrist) - available, Courtenay Dempsey (hamstring) - test, Scott Gumbleton (hamstring) - 1 week, Leroy Jetta (hamstring) - 1 week, Sam Lonergan (hamstring) - 2 weeks, Mark McVeigh (hamstring) - 3 weeks, Scott Lucas (knee) - 5 weeks, Heath Hocking (groin) - 7-9 weeks, Andrew Lee (shoulder) - indefinite.

FORM: Collingwood has dropped out of the eight following successive losses to Carlton and North Melbourne. Essendon's form has mirrored the Pies'. They're also 2-3 coming off defeats by the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda.

WHO'S HOT: Josh Fraser played his best game for the year against North last Saturday and was particularly damaging up forward with four goals straight. His effort was bettered by Paul Medhurst's five, a huge contribution from the Pies' small forward. Bachar Houli continues to impress, gathering 23 disposals and two goals in Essendon's loss to the Saints while David Hille was again influential with 18 touches and 26 hitouts.

WE THINK: Essendon-Collingwood clashes are always big, but Anzac Day is something special. The occasion has produced more than its share of upsets over the years, though it's hard to nominate a genuine favourite this time 'round. Neither team is in top form, both are missing prime movers, and their respective full-forwards can't fire a shot. One huge factor in Collingwood's favour is experience. This will be Mick Malthouse's ninth Anzac Day and Matthew Knights' first. It won't be quite the same without Hird and Buckley out there but, then again, Anzac Day is as much about new heroes, such as Mark McGough, as old ones. It's hard to see the Bombers coming good. The Magpies have them covered personnel-wise and they're smarting bigtime after last week's loss to North. Collingwood by 25 points.