> Watch Sharrod Wellingham front the media after training on Friday

SATURDAY night's clash with 15th-placed West Coast will test the harder mental edge Collingwood has been working to develop.

While the Magpies have contested the past four finals series, they have also been guilty of dropping games against lower-ranked opponents, which midfielder Sharrod Wellingham said had been an area of concern.

"It's definitely something that's come to bite us in the past," Wellingham said following Friday's training session at Gosch's Paddock.

"With us having to play so many blockbusters, we get built up for the big games and then we tend to lose the games we should win, which is something we're trying to remedy this year.

"It's [about] not being complacent and not going into games really switched on is something that we've had to work on. We go up to Sydney like we did last week and we know what we have to do. I suppose we've got to take that attitude into games that we have lost in the past and making sure that we do win them.

"If you look at our list it is a very strong list, so it's got nothing to do with the talent in the side - it's got to do with our mental capacity."

Once again the selection panel could not find a place in the 22 for ruckman Josh Fraser with John Anthony replacing the injured Brad Dick (shoulder).

Despite his inability to reclaim a senior berth this time around, Wellingham backed Fraser to do so in the near future.

"Josh is a very well-respected guy around the club and we know that when he does get in he'll take his opportunity," he said.

"When he does get in it will be well-deserved and he'll play his role."

Anthony has been in a similar situation to Fraser this season, which Wellingham argued was an indication of the depth of the Pies' list rather than a poor reflection on either player.

Dick's absence is a concern for the club given his history of shoulder issues - he had a reconstruction late last year - but Wellingham said a cautious decision was made with the livewire forward.

"He was pretty close, but I think they're just going to give him a bit of time to strengthen it up," he said.

"Dicky's a little guy so any extra strength work he can do will help him."

Meanwhile, Collingwood has named rookie-listed midfielder Jarryd Blair as an emergency for this weekend's game.

Blair, 20, was selected in the 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft and has boosted his chances of a Magpies debut through strong VFL form.

Under AFL rules, clubs can promote a rookie-listed player from round 11 without moving a senior teammate to the long-term injury list.