Collingwood defender Nathan Brown addressed the media prior to his team's final training session before flying out to South Australia ahead of Saturday's encounter with Port Adelaide.

Brown canvassed a range of topics, from injuries to the treatment Essendon's Jobe Watson received in Thursday night's match against West Coast.

He quipped that Darren Jolly's toe injury might be "an old man's injury" and is glad that the team can call on the experience of Ben Hudson to deputise in the ruck. Brown said that Hudson's ability to blend his development role with Collingwood's younger ruckmen with his famous "white line fever and intimidation" has made him a vital addition to Nathan Buckley's list this season.

When assessing Saturday's clash with the Power, Brown agreed that the match is a danger game and said that Buckley had said as much in Friday morning's pre-training team meeting.

Brown said that Collingwood has "set ourselves to have a good one" against Port Adelaide and is only concerned with what remains in its control. He believes that his team is "building and trending towards a top four position", although he agrees that the competition for spots in the final eight, let alone the top four, is the hottest it has been in years.

The 2010 premiership full back admitted that continuity within the back six is important but had praise for the attitudes of players such as Ben Sinclair, Marley Williams and Jordan Russell who have slotted into defence to great effect at different times this season.

"Their role doesn't change much," Brown told reporters.

"The personnel might change but the role doesn't."

When pressed on Thursday night's events, Brown admitted he did not agree with the booing that Jobe Watson received in Essendon's win but believes that the Bombers are playing with a togetherness that only the best sides exude.

On Dale Thomas' rehabilitation from ankle surgery, Brown said that Thomas has still been his old self around the club.

"He's still the 'Daisy' of old. He's really chirpy," Brown smiled.

"He has started walking again...he's tracking along really well."