Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley admits a run of six straight losses has dented the confidence of his young AFL team.
After making a flying 8-3 start to the season, the Magpies have hit a mid-season trough for the second successive year, including a demoralising defeat last weekend to Melbourne.
But they will still start as clear favourites against 16th-ranked Carlton on Saturday.
“We just need to get back to playing our best footy and this is the next opportunity,” Buckley said on Wednesday.