Magpies trio to face West Coast
MAGPIES coach Nathan Buckley is confident he will be able to unleash defenders Ben Reid, Alan Toovey and Heath Shaw on the West Coast this Saturday afternoon in the top-of-the-table clash at the MCG.
Buckley says Reid is ready to make a return from a quad injury which has sidelined him since round eight, while Toovey and Shaw have missed two games with calf problems.
All three had a run out at Colingwood's Gosch's Paddock training ground yesterday.
Buckley considered the risks of bringing back the trio from soft tissue injuries but wanted to strengthen his defence for the important clash and belived Reid, Toovey and Shaw were ready to go.
"When you've got players of that talent, you're more comfortable bringing three fresh players in ... especially against a very good West Coast offence," he said.
Reid was the biggest injury concern of the trio because he has had a history of quad complaints but Buckley said the club had worked hard to rebuild him in training sessions.
Scott Pendlebury (cracked tibia) and Alan Didak (torn groin)will not face the Eagles, but Magpies coaching staff were pleased with their progress after they ran yesterday at training.
The Swans' Adam Goodes is another set to return tomorrow night in another blockbuster fixture against the Cats at the SCG after coach John Longmire said "he's looking pretty well".
Goodes has been out for with a quad injury since limping off against the Crows in round 6.
