Steele Sidebottom, Travis Varcoe to boost Collingwood midfield

COLLINGWOOD’S midfield will receive a much-needed boost against Melbourne and the Pies could turn to a surprise defensive option.

Travis Varcoe Picture:Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD’S midfield will receive a much-needed boost when gun ball-winners Steele Sidebottom and Travis Varcoe return for Sunday’s clash against Melbourne.

Sidebottom will return from a two-match suspension, while Varcoe, one of Collingwood’s leading defensive pressure players, is coming back from a hamstring problem.

Coach Nathan Buckley has warned the Pies their forward line pressure and defensive zoning must improve after an abysmal loss to an undermanned St Kilda on Saturday.

But defender Marley Williams faces at least one match on the sidelines after injuring his foot against the Saints.

Williams suffered a mid-foot sprain in the first term and will be under a cloud for the Pies’ blockbuster Anzac Day clash against Collingwood in Round 5.

Melbourne has lost gun playmaker Bernie Vince, after he was yesterday suspended for two matches for a clumsy hit on North Melbourne’s Jamie Macmillan.

Vince made contact with his elbow to Macmillan’s chin as the Roo kicked a goal.

Vince’s ban can be downgraded to one-match with an early guilty plea.

Aside from injured veteran Dane Swan, the Magpies’ engine room will be back to near full strength for the clash against Melbourne after onballer Levi Greenwood was cleared by the match review panel.

Greenwood was cited for making contact to Nick Riewoldt’s head, forcing the gun Saint off the ground from late in the second quarter at the MCG.

The Saints’ champion passed a concussion test and remains hopeful of playing against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

For Collingwood, veteran Alan Toovey, 29, is line to replace Williams to combat Melbourne’s mobile forward line, while big man Jesse White has also hit red-hot form in his new role as an intercepting defender.

White, 28, was best on ground in the VFL on Sunday and could help bolster a Collingwood defensive setup that has conceded an average 113 points in its first three games.

Jeremy Howe could keep his spot in Collingwood’s forward line for the tussle against his former side despite a quiet Collingwood debut against the Saints, gathering eight possessions and three tackles.

But third-year backman Jonathon Marsh is out of senior contention after succumbing to another hamstring injury in the VFL.

Rookie midfielder Josh Smith, 22, is also in the mix to be promoted after impressing the coaching staff with his hard-nosed ball-winning and composed ball use.

The Pies have made a poor start to the season but will attempt to get their campaign on track against the Demons as part of a make-or-break month.

Nathan Buckley’s men have winnable games against Melbourne and Essendon, followed by West Coast, Carlton and West Coast.