Magpies focus on weekly challenges

NATHAN Buckley is seeking premiership points not psychological advantage over Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

IT IS premiership points rather than a psychological advantage that Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is seeking when his side faces Hawthorn in a blockbuster clash at the MCG this Saturday.

The Pies and Hawks have already played once this season -- with Alastair Clarkson's men recording a 22-point victory in a Round 1 shootout -- and are every chance to meet again come September with both sides currently occupying positions in the top four.

Several Magpies noted after their thrilling three-point win over West Coast last month that likely finalists were already sizing each other up for potential September showdowns, but Buckley maintained this morning that his focus was on this week's game only.

"There's obviously still a lot of shuffling (on the ladder) that's going to be happening over the next seven weeks,'' Buckley said.

"I think your focus needs to remain on your next opponent. Clearly the points are the most important thing right now and to get the points you clearly need to be playing your best footy and really reviewing the opposition and looking at where you can potentially nullify some of their strengths and take advantage of some things that you see.

"That becomes the major focus, the process doesn't change much regardless of who you play on that weekend.''
This week's clash is just the latest in a string of marquee matchups the Pies will face in the last seven rounds of the home and away season.

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Greater Western Sydney follows next week, before Buckley's charges take on top eight aspirants St Kilda, Sydney (away), North Melbourne, West Coast (away) and Essendon.

Buckley said "you don't have a choice, you just go and play the games you play'', before admitting his side's run home would give a good gauge on its capabilities heading in to the finals.

"If you want to be the best you've got to beat the best,'' he said.

"And whether you do it in July, August or September -- it is relevant, because you want to be playing your best football at the pointy end of the season, but we're still working towards that.''

Buckley said Scott Pendlebury, Nathan Brown and Chris Tarrant had all pulled up "particularly well'' after being out with various injuries in recent weeks.