Collingwood defender Alan Toovey has predicted the return from injury of Nathan Brown will make for some fierce competition for backline spots at the AFL club this year.

Brown and Ben Reid proved their capability as tall defenders as key members of the Magpies’ 2010 premiership side.

But the serious knee injury which wiped out 23-year-old Brown’s 2011 season allowed veteran recruit Chris Tarrant to establish himself last year as one of the Magpies’ most valuable players.

With Reid having also enjoyed another strong year, it gives Collingwood the welcome problem of trying to squeeze three big defenders into two spots.

Mobile backman Toovey said the continued emergence of younger candidates for those positions, such as Lachlan Keeffe, who played the first five games of his AFL career last year, and American Shae McNamara further complicated the scenario.

Toovey said it was unlikely more than two of the big men could be played in defence at one time.

“I wouldn’t have thought so, no,” Toovey said on Thursday.

“Normally, you don’t go with three really big guys.

“But Taz can play forward – Reidy can play forward. Maybe they’re down there (in defence) for a little bit and one moves forward.

“Lachy Keefe can play back a bit as well – he’s looking for a spot, McNamara.

“There are a lot of big men that are going well, so it’s pretty tough for them.”

Toovey said Brown’s pre-season had been very encouraging.

In Brown’s most recent AFL games, the strongly-built youngster did an excellent job on St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt in both the 2010 drawn grand final and the replay.