> Watch the three assistant coaches address the media on Monday

WHILE Collingwood full-back Simon Prestigiacomo is close to a recall for Saturday's grand final replay, there are no guarantees that small forward Leon Davis will be included in the Magpies' 22 for the rematch with St Kilda.

Prestigiacomo was named in the Collingwood 22 last Thursday, but the veteran was forced to pull out with a niggling groin injury on Friday. He was officially replaced 90 minutes before the bounce by Nathan Brown.  

Collingwood backline coach Scott Watters said the 32-year-old, who has not played since round 20, would not necessarily come into the side at the expense of Brown or young defender Ben Reid, who were both impressive against St Kilda.

“One probably doesn’t preclude the other,” Watters said from the Westpac Centre on Monday.

“The performances of ‘Browny’ and ‘Reidy’ were terrific.

“It’s a great problem for us to have, that ‘Presti’ looks like he’ll be very close, as he has been for the last couple of weeks.

“The last two weeks, it’s probably been tempting, [and] last week it was a minor hiccup along the way … I’m sure he’s going to be strongly considered.”

Davis had just six possessions and two tackles in Saturday's grand final, but a superb goal at the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter could save his place.

Collingwood forward coach Nathan Buckley said the 29-year-old's cameo could ultimately have been the difference in the match.

“He nearly won us the game with the goal that he kicked in the last quarter [and] that’s what you hope for from your small forwards, to do that consistent work throughout the match and then to take their chances when they come,” Buckley said.

When asked if Davis was under the pump at selection after a third quiet grand final, Buckley was evasive.

“We’ve got a squad of 31,” he said. “We’re still finding out where the dust settles for each of the guys physically. We’ll address that as the week progresses.”

The versatile Tyson Goldsack, veteran Tarkyn Lockyer and forward Paul Medhurst are the three most likely replacements should Davis be cut.

While Watters said Goldsack was in line for selection and that his versatility could be an asset in the replay, he said freshness alone was not reason enough to make changes.

“Bringing in a fresh player is a consideration, but they’ve got to be a player that we’re confident with, that they’re going to bring something to the table as well,” Watters said.

“You weigh that up against how players are feeling physically, emotionally, and whether a young player might need a break.”

Buckley praised the stoppage work and forward pressure of youngster Jarryd Blair, who was the least experienced of Collingwood’s grand final 22 with 11 games to his name.