Collingwood's leading goalkicker Brody Mihocek will return for Sunday's crunch clash against arch-rivals Carlton after overcoming a head injury.

But the rest of Nathan Buckley's forward line remains a mystery.

Mihocek missed the Magpies' victory over North Melbourne on Monday after being knocked out the previous week in a sickening collision with Melbourne's Aaron vandenBerg.

The Collingwood coach confirmed on Friday Mihocek would be "right to go", nailing down one spot in the Magpies' misfiring forward line.

However, the Collingwood coach was coy about the rest of the front six make-up, saying towering Mason Cox had a big impact in the final quarter against the Kangaroos, while dumped Jaidyn Stephenson was "around the mark" for a recall.

"There's still a big chunk of improvement in us," Buckley said.

"The one area that has ebbed and flowed … has been our offence, our capacity to connect going into our front half. 

"We had some looks we were able to create going inside 50 last weekend and the forwards were probably shocked to see that. We haven't been operating with that sort of supply."

Buckley hinted that Cox would be given another chance following his five-disposal, one-goal outing.

"Coxy's impact on the game was quite significant in the last quarter.

"When you've been out of it for a little while, sometimes you feel a bit rusty, that's a little bit of what we saw. 

"We need to look at an adjusted structure we think can give us a chance to score heavily, and our aerial presence is part of that."

One of the game's traditional rivalries will break new ground on Sunday when the two Victorian heavyweights clash at the Gabba. 

Collingwood is clinging to seventh spot, with the improving Blues a game outside the eight with a game up their sleeve. 

"The two clubs have a history," Buckley said.

"Dwelling on something that happened 50 years ago is not going to support us getting the job done on Sunday. 

"We've got enough motivation and meaning, looking at the current situation we're in, needing to win, and coming up against a team we think is playing some pretty good footy.

"We're pumped and looking forward to the contest."