COLLINGWOOD on-baller Taylor Adams will make a welcome return for the Grand Final rematch against West Coast at the MCG on Saturday night.

Adams passed his final test during the Magpies' main session at Olympic Park Oval on Thursday when, wearing a glove to protect the repaired finger on his left hand, he handled the ball cleanly and trained to full capacity.

Pies coach Nathan Buckley confirmed Adams would face the Eagles and would continue to don the glove "as a form of support" after using it at training for the past fortnight.

"Tay's fit, he's a leader of the football club (and) one of our best performers over a number of years. He got through today and he'll play this week. He's as running-fit as he's been and ready to go," Buckley told reporters after training.

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The inside midfielder's availability finally enables the Pies to unleash the full force of their powerful midfield – a tantalising prospect for their clash with the reigning premier.

Taylor Adams got through training and looks ready to take on the Eagles. Story soon on @afl.com.au ⁦@CollingwoodFC⁩ pic.twitter.com/vrvW4tCD9j — Ben Collins (@bencollocollins) April 4, 2019

Perhaps only veteran Daniel Wells would be missing from Collingwood's first-choice running brigade.

Adams had carried the finger tendon injury for some weeks before undergoing surgery on March 1, sidelining him for the JLT Community Series and the opening two rounds. The 25-year-old was this week cleared for action by his surgeon.

The 120-gamer, in his fourth season in the club's leadership group, was superb in his most recent outing against the Eagles, finishing second in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal in the Pies' five-point Grand Final loss.

That heartbreaking result was the Pies' third successive defeat to West Coast, including two at the MCG after giving up significant starts. They will now clash for fourth time in just 14 games.

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Buckley said his players were well prepared to break the Eagles' spell.

"No, I got through those," Buckley said when asked if the upcoming clash had stirred up any emotions from September.

"We're not robots. The team, the club, are made of very human strengths and frailties and realities, but we can't dwell on anything that we're not in control of, and I think we've got really good at that.

"We're an in-the-moment club, we're an in-the-moment team, and we want to bring all that positive emotion that we carry day-to-day for each other … that really drives us."

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Both teams dropped their opening games with what Buckley described as "fairly sloppy" performances before rebounding in round two.

Since they last faced West Coast, the Pies have added key defenders Darcy Moore and ex-Bulldog Jordan Roughead, gun midfielder Dayne Beams and small forward Jamie Elliott, all of whom have already proved key inclusions and further points of difference.

"Our personnel shifts are not insignificant, and we're still discovering how that's going to settle for us (to play) our best footy, not necessarily against any particular opposition," Buckley said.

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The Magpies comprehensively defeated Richmond with a style based around patiently racking up uncontested marks with short kicks to leading targets, and they will take a similar approach to the Eagles to quell the influence of intercepting defenders Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Shannon Hurn.

"You want to control the ball as much as you possibly can, but when we break the lines we want to go fast and get the ball over the back as much as we can," Buckley explained.

"We've coached adaptability in the way we move the ball. We'd love to cut through the opposition defence without taking too much risk, but the fact is you need to balance that risk/reward. The test for us is to do it consistently against a good defensive unit, especially in our front third.

"If we keep kicking it high without getting a contest (they) will keep marking them and come back the other way," he said.

Collingwood forward Will Hoskin-Elliott's recovery from an iliotibial band issue in his left leg is taking longer than anticipated, but Buckley said the speedster had taken positive steps in the past fortnight and would need two or three solid weeks of training to be close to a return.

Inside midfielder Brayden Sier, who was part of the Pies' run to the Grand Final but is yet to play a game this season, left the track early on Thursday and didn't return. Buckley said the 21-year-old has this week been dealing with a rib issue that was affecting his breathing and he "would be doubtful" for VFL action.

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