> Watch Scott Pendlebury address the media before Wednesday's closed training sessionCOLLINGWOOD onballer Scott Pendlebury is confident the Magpies can halt a run of four losses against St Kilda when the sides meet in the match of the round at the MCG on Saturday.
The Pies sit comfortably in third spot on the ladder going into the match having suffered just three losses this season.
Top-two teams Geelong and the Saints have accounted for two of those losses, but Pendlebury said there was no cause for concern as the three clubs head into a finals campaign.
"I think we've definitely had our chances in those games so its not like we've been blown out of the water and this week will be no different," Pendlebury said from Gosch's Paddock in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
"We'll obviously look at what we did wrong last time but really attack the game like we did the last couple.
"I think ball use is very important against a side like St Kilda and obviously our pressure skills as well. I think a lot of the things that we've done well in the past against other sides we need to bring against St Kilda.
"As we have all year, we'll back our midfield to stand up and play the way that we want to play. We don't want to change too much just because we're playing St Kilda."
Skipper Nick Maxwell is still listed as a week or two away from resuming from a calf injury, but he trained with his teammates on Wednesday in an effort to push forward that timeframe.
"We've been pretty cautious with him," Pendlebury said.
"A soft tissue injury at this stage of the year - you don't want to push him too hard - but he's done everything right so far. We've got two sessions to go."
The round-three clash between the sides was a spiteful one, with the aftermath spilling well into the following week but Pendlebury said that had not been raised as an issue ahead of the return bout.
The Pies have averaged just over six goals in their past four encounters with St Kilda and face the challenge of improving on that meagre number without key forward Travis Cloke.
"I think Trav's a bit disappointed in himself," Pendlebury said of Cloke's two-match ban for striking Port's Travis Boak.
"It would have been nice to have him, but he's not going to be out there. We've got good depth - I'm sure someone will come in and play a role for the side.
"I think Josh [Fraser] is in the mix and there are a few others in the VFL as well."
Out-of-sorts forward Paul Medhurst has not featured in the Pies' senior line-up since round 12, but Pendlebury said his performances at VFL level were moving him closer to a recall.
"He played very well at the weekend. I went down there and watched and he was very good," he said.
"All the things that he's known for he delivered on the weekend. He put in a good performance so he'll be in the mix.
"If he gets his body right and his confidence up there's no doubt he's in our best 22."
