Collingwood facing selection dilemma

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Collingwood big men Nathan Brown, Ben Reid and Quinten Lynch all look set to feature in Saturday's elimination final against Port Adelaide, while Harry O'Brien and Luke Ball are both in the frame to take on the Power.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said Ball (calf tightness) and O'Brien, a late withdrawal from Sunday's loss to North Melbourne with respiratory issues, would both be considered for selection against Port.

And the coach also confirmed that Brown, Reid and Lynch had all pulled up well, despite suffering knocks during the 11-point final-round loss.

"Going through the audit of our game and how the dust settled this morning, it seems like they're on the better scale," said Buckley on Monday morning.

"Browny's just jarred his knee, Lynchy rolled an ankle and Reidy's fine, right to go, (we were) basically just managing him for that last period of the game.

"So three pretty important players to our structure, all big units, they've come out of it okay."

As for Ball and O'Brien's chances of featuring, Buckley simply said the club faced some big decisions at the selection table.

"Look, it gives the match committee a really tough task to pick the best 22 for this week," said Buckley.

"We're blessed at the moment with probably as good an injury status that we've had for the last 24 months and we've got some players that are in some good form and putting their hands up.

"So we feel like we're coming into the contest against Port Adelaide in good shape with some options."

Buckley praised Alan Didak for his performances in the last few matches, but said the veteran Magpie was no guaranteed starter against Port.

"I think Dids' last six weeks, eight weeks has been a fair example to resilience and staying the course and they're a long way from the traits that Dids has always been known for," Buckley said.

"(He's better known for) the flair and the skills and the exceptional one-off act on the football field.

"He has deserved his opportunities over the last couple of weeks and puts his hand up, he's well and truly in the mix.

"Fundamentally we've got a depth of performance in our list at the moment that it means you need to tip into all areas," Buckley added.

"We feel like we found a mix over the last five or six weeks which was obviously our best football.

"Dids has been a part of the last couple and we've had some players out the last couple of weeks that were a part of that six weeks, so there's going to be some players that are stiff to miss and that's our job."

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