Collingwood are preparing for a series of AFL finals previews as the season heads towards the September shootout.

Matches against St Kilda on Saturday night and ladder leaders Sydney the following week will test the Magpies’ credentials, according to midfielder Steele Sidebottom.

The durable 22-year-old is back after missing last week’s rout of GWS – just the second time he has been ruled out through injury since joining the club in 2009.

He returns along with stars Darren Jolly, Harry O’Brien, Dale Thomas and Sharrod Wellingham, who has served his three-match suspension.

Sidebottom says Collingwood view the closing rounds as an indictor of their September strengths.

“There’s nothing we can do about the past but from here on in we’re concentrating on our form,” he said.

“If we can keep taking steps, it will hold us in good stead for the right end of the season.”

According to Sidebottom, Collingwood still have a good deal of room for improvement and aim to be playing their most potent football next month.

“We haven’t reached our peak yet but a lot of teams don’t want to because there are still a few rounds to go.”

Sidebottom says Collingwood believe they can beat St Kilda “all over the board.”

He said the Magpies would try to concentrate on breaking open the game.

“The Saints are a pretty good defensive side but we will be trying to do the opposite, trying to open them up.”

Collingwood are inside the top four and one game shy of top spot while a win for St Kilda could lift them into the eight.