COLLINGWOOD looks set to start rotating new faces into its powerful line-up as it seeks to have as many players prepared for the pace of AFL football as possible leading into the finals.

Magpies coach Mick Malthouse admitted on Thursday that he erred in not giving enough senior game time to a number of fringe players last season, which left them unprepared to contribute in September.

The veteran leader vowed not to make the same error again.

"We've got some good young kids coming through and we're going to reward those kids over the next two or three weeks, with the view of having them come through for the rest of the year," Malthouse said before Collingwood training at Gosch's Paddock.

"Life's about learning from your mistakes, and there's no question I made mistakes last year in bringing players up from the reserves a bit too late, and playing them at senior level after too big a stint in the reserves, and they lost the feel for AFL football."

Malthouse named veterans Tarkyn Lockyer, Paul Medhurst and Shane O'Bree as three players who spent too much time in the VFL in 2010 and lost touch as a result.

None of the trio could force its way into the Magpies premiership team.

"Our intent now is to start to filter a few of these really good form players into the system and expose them as much as we can to the good sides," Malthouse said.

"Hopefully by the end of the year we'll have a pretty good, solid list to pick from, as opposed to a good name list but they haven't played senior footy."

The Magpies face Hawthorn in a huge MCG clash on Sunday, a team that has been forced to introduce several youngsters by virtue of its lengthy injury list.

Malthouse said the defending premiers would need to be careful not to focus too heavily on the Hawks' big names and not pay due attention to the dangerous young players who have been critical in several wins.

"We've spoken about that today," Malthouse said.

"They're winning a lot of games and they're winning them because these kids are performing at a very high level, as high as their main players.

"Put it this way, we're very aware of it."

For the second time in a week Malthouse paid tribute to the quality of the third-placed Hawks' foot skills.

"I really do believe that their kicking skills are the equal of any side I've ever seen, collectively," he said.

"They're a very dangerous side, and [Lance] Franklin coming back in makes them even more dangerous."

Collingwood premiership ruckman Darren Jolly made his return from a knee injury in the VFL on the weekend, collecting 29 hit-outs and 23 disposals in a successful first outing.

But Malthouse said the 29 year-old wouldn't be rushed back into the senior team.

"We'll see how he trains, but I think we've got to be cautious," Malthouse said.

"We're just over halfway [through the season] and players need to be ready to play.

"He puts his hand up all the time because he's got a big heart and the way he played last week he's done nothing wrong, but I don't think [replacement ruckman] Cameron Wood has either, quite frankly."

Gun small forward Alan Didak will miss the Hawthorn clash with a calf injury suffered against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.

But Malthouse indicated the star could recover sooner than first hoped.

"The way he feels in the last few days, he'd be [out for] less [time] than the medical people first said, which was two to three weeks," the three-time premiership coach said.

"I know Alan's very keen to get back.

"It's a very unusual injury, it came about because of a cramp, so he could miss one week."