COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse does not believe Friday night’s record-breaking defeat to Geelong will be “fatal” to the Magpies’ chances of winning back-to-back premierships.

Geelong smashed the Magpies by 96 points, the heaviest defeat ever inflicted on Collingwood by the Cats. The result was Collingwood’s largest defeat since a 112-point loss to Fremantle in round seven, 2005.

With the Magpies set to face West Coast in a qualifying final next Saturday afternoon, Malthouse was quick to put Friday night’s match and the defeat into perspective.

''Half way through the second quarter we were being beaten badly and really there wasn't a yelp, but what have you got invested? What is the net outcome of now busting a boiler and trying to fight back?'' Malthouse asked.

''I'm not saying that is right, wrong or indifferent; that takes too much away from Geelong. We will not be the first or last side that this happens to - I don't mean the magnitude of the loss, but a loss in the last game (of the home-and-away season). It won't be fatal, but you don't want it to be hanging around either.

''We will lick our wounds. I am sure I would rather get this one out of the way, where everyone appeared to be pretty good pre-game but clearly not switched on during the game.''

Rather than focus too much of the loss, Malthouse said his players should be given credit for their outstanding performances over a long period. The Magpies have lost just two matches during the home and away season, the other one coming in round eight, also against the Cats.

''This takes nothing away from Geelong's class or method that they used to win the game, but I sincerely hope that is not us,'' he said.

''Our history has shown that is not us. We take the good with the bad. We were bad tonight, but we have been pretty good for a long period of time.

''Some blokes had absolute shockers tonight but we know that is not their level. I won't be watching a lot of this game, but I will be watching certain things about the game (to) try and put them together and try to find out what is real, what is half-believe.''

The Magpies came out of the match with fresh injury concerns, with Chris Tarrant (right ankle) the most pressing. The key defender had to be substituted out of the game during the third quarter, and while Malthouse was waiting for more information before commenting on injuries, Tarrant was on crutches after the match, a move seen to be precautionary.

Fellow defender Ben Reid said the Collingwood players were confident Tarrant would play against the Eagles.

''’Taz’ going down wasn't ideal, but from all reports he is fine (and) he will be right for next week,'' Reid said after the game.

Ben Johnson needed attention to a jarred left knee, Travis Cloke came off the field with a leg problem, and Tyson Goldsack left the field after a heavy hit in the last quarter. However, all returned to the field and played out the game.

Ahead of the clash with the Eagles, Collingwood has a number of players pushing for selection. Heath Shaw has finished his eight-week suspension for betting, while captain Nick Maxwell is keen to return after breaking a thumb three weeks ago. Leon Davis missed the loss to Geelong with a hamstring strain, but suspended midfielder Dale Thomas will miss the first final.

While Malthouse said Shaw was ready to go, he would be monitoring Maxwell this week.

''He played today (in an intra-club match) and I will see how he pulled up from that,'' Malthouse said.

''We videoed the game, so I will go back over that, and see how much contested ball he got in the practice match, see how he went, did he favour (the thumb) or not. He has got eight days of extra healing and extra fitness. It's not like he has been out for a long time.''