COLLINGWOOD defender Martin Clarke won't rest on his laurels despite the Magpies' mounting injury list.
Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw are the Pies' latest casualties, which brings the list of unavailable senior players to eight.
But Clarke won't be taking it easy despite the growing list and says it's only made competition for spots hotter.
"I don't think I'm in a position to be saying I've cemented my position in this team at all, no way," Clarke said on Friday.
"Every week I'm learning a bit more and every training I'm asking more questions and starting to feel more comfortable again.
"Everyone needs to play their best and give their all, and I don't think one player could say I'm guaranteed my place. That's not the way it works.
"Everyone on the list knows they're a chance now if they're available and able to play, and it's very exciting.
"You notice in training and around the club, everyone is very excited and we have every confidence whoever comes in can play the role well."
Clarke notches up his 50th AFL game on Saturday against Port Adelaide after returning from a two-year stint back home in Ireland in trade week last year.
He says the hardest things to get used to since his return have been the ball, game plan, succession of big games and the intense media interest.
Collingwood's 60-point loss to Carlton and Mick Malthouse-Eddie McGuire stoush made headlines this week, before Leon Davis' revelation he might have remained a Pie had Malthouse stayed on came up on Thursday night's The Footy Show.
Clarke, who described Malthouse as a "father figure" during his first stint at the Pies and said Nathan Buckley played a part in getting him back to Australia last year, said external matters hadn't affected the players' focus to improve against the Power.
"We haven't been worried about who said what or who's done what. We're just worried about Port Adelaide and giving a good performance," he said.
Nathan Brown and Cameron Wood trained with the seniors on Friday while Alan Didak ran out beforehand with the VFL team.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
