Collingwood's Tyson Goldsack says Harry O'Brien is in good spirits as he prepares for his first game back since the personal issues he is dealing with came to public attention.

When asked whether it was good to have O'Brien back, Goldsack's response was genuine.

"It's awesome," he said.

O'Brien took a short break from the club after a disagreement with his coach Nathan Buckley and then revealed the extent of the issues he was working through in a doorstop interview as he returned to training.

In strong form before the Magpies' round 13 bye, O'Brien missed games against Carlton, Adelaide and Gold Coast.

Goldsack said the All-Australian defender was a handy inclusion as the Magpies tried to gain some momentum in the final stages of the season.

"He's been missed. He brings a lot to the team so it will be good to see him back out there and get his run and enthusiasm back," Goldsack said.

He said the players were keen to express their support for a valued teammate.

"You don't have to try to do it. We love the bloke so it was sad to see him go through that and in such a public way," Goldsack said.

"The fact that he has come back from that and he is back playing, it is good to see. I'm looking forward to having him out there.

"I guess the last couple of weeks he has been building back to where he was a month or so ago and he is building back to full spirits now and obviously there are still a few things to resolve."

The club's first pick from the 2012 AFL National Draft, Brodie Grundy, will make his debut for the Magpies against the Giants.

Collingwood selected the highly rated South Australian with pick No.18. A back injury interrupted the young ruckman's first pre-season but the club, and Goldsack, have been impressed with his efforts in the VFL.

"He'll have a crack and he'll make a contest and play well. He is an exciting player," Goldsack said.

Grundy has earned a bit of a reputation as a left-field thinker, perhaps because he is an intelligent young man. He is known to appreciate poetry and enjoy the outdoors.

"Off the field he thinks a little bit differently to the average bear," Goldsack said.  "He's a good fella, good on him. He is a lateral thinker."

Goldsack said the team needed to improve its conversion rate to push itself back into contention.

The Magpies had 11 more inside 50s than the Suns last week but lost by seven points. It remains two games clear inside the eight but has a tough run of games after the Giants with Essendon, the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn to follow.