DEFENDER Harry O'Brien says Collingwood will be a lot stronger for the inclusion of Alan Didak and Heath Shaw.

The pair was suspended from the latter part of the 2008 season after Shaw crashed his car while under the influence of alcohol with Didak in the passenger’s seat.

But both are back in the fold for Saturday night’s NAB Cup clash with West Coast at Subiaco Oval.

"They've trained outstandingly during the pre-season and it has been good seeing them out on the track,” O’Brien said on the eve of the match in Perth.

“We can't wait to have them back in the side because they really do make our team a lot stronger.

"It's been quite a while since the incident and the way they've trained all pre-season has proven to us that they want to be in the side.

“It's going to be good to have them back and we've moved on from what happened."

O'Brien was recruited to Collingwood from Perth and never thought he'd be returning to cooler weather.

But that is the case after the recent Melbourne heatwave.

Perth’s forecast maximum temperature for Saturday is 28 degrees, a big drop from the 44 degrees expected in Melbourne.

"We've trained under some extreme conditions but we are stronger for it. I never thought I'd say that it's good to come to Perth where it's a bit cooler and we are looking forward to the hit-out in good conditions," he said.

O’Brien also said the side was focused on performing well in the pre season.

"The last couple of years we've been knocked out in the first round so we are really looking to get the confidence that you get from winning,” he said.

“We want to get that momentum going and that's why we've picked a strong squad.

"Hawthorn was probably two years ahead of us in terms of that experience of having a group of young players coming through together.

“We've had a lot of young players that have now tasted finals football and that's going to hold us in good stead to come up against the top tier of sides."

O'Brien said the new rushed behind rule would make it harder for defenders to retain possession.

"When you lose possession of the ball nowadays the ramifications are very high, especially deep in defence," he said.

"It can turn into a scoring chance which you do not need, which is why it has come into the game more.

“I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, it's a tactic you should use to reset and keep possession of the football. We'll see how this new rule goes."