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The Magpies have lost four of their past five games and will drop out of the top eight should they lose to the Crows, who have won three of their past five.
The match is equally important for Adelaide, which could climb into eighth spot if it wins.
But Jamie Elliott, who is set to play his 50th game this weekend, is still confident Collingwood's best form is going to take some beating.
"If we win this game it will set us up better for the finals and if we don't it's just going to set us back," said Elliott.
Livewire small forward Elliott has missed the past two weeks because of a hamstring injury, which has contributed to Collingwood's bad form.
But he insists the Pies can lift at the business end of the season, and are still premiership contenders.
"We've got a long way to go if we do lose this game," he said.
"We're starting from a long way back, but when you do look at our best we're a very good team," Elliott said on Tuesday.
"If we don't play to our best we're a very bad team, so there's a big difference in how our performances are between those two.
"If you talk to everyone we're capable of winning a premiership, but we've got to play very good football."
Another crucial Magpie, defender Ben Reid, is also set to return. Reid's 2014 campaign has been hampered by a combination of quad and calf injuries and he is yet to play an AFL game this season.
The Crows could regain ball magnet David McKay from a hamstring injury.
Adelaide will be out to record a rare win at the MCG on Sunday. The Crows have won just one game from its last 12 attempts at the venue.