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Collingwood defender Chris Tarrant is expected to provide a tough physical test to West Coast's tall forwards in the AFL semi-final at the MCG.

Collingwood veteran defender Chris Tarrant will be encouraged to physically test West Coast's tall forwards the way he did Hawthorn's Lance Franklin last weekend.

The Eagles' giant attack looms as a big weapon in Saturday night's MCG cut-throat semi-final and Magpies defensive coach Ben Hart says the Magpies defenders need to stamp their ascendancy.

Tarrant received a reprimand from the AFL's match review panel this week for striking Franklin last Friday night, as part of a fiercely aggressive early attack on the star forward.

"It's the way that Chris plays his best footy, I think, is he's aggressive," Hart said on Friday.

"Whoever he lines up on I'm sure at times he'll be putting his body into them.

"Forwards do that as well, they put their bodies into defenders.

"It's probably something we expect from our guys, to be physical and try to stamp themselves."

The Eagles attack boasts tall forwards Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Quinten Lynch, along with the high-leaping Josh Hill and at times ruck stars Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, putting pressure on a Collingwood defence missing suspended skipper Nick Maxwell.

Maxwell has been replaced by utility Tyson Goldsack, who is returning from an ankle injury and has played forward most of the year, but will be needed in defence at least some of Saturday night.

"He's one that you can swing down back if you need to and with Maxy going out that's certainly an option," Hart said.

The Magpies are hoping if they can negate the Eagles' aerial threat, the likes of Heath Shaw and Ben Johnson can provide defensive drive.

But Hart said Collingwood needed to perform a lot better in the midfield than they did when thrashed by the Eagles three weeks ago and have their tall defenders fire.

"As a defence we're going to have our work cut out, but first and foremost we've got to stop them marking it, then hopefully we can get some support and run out of there," Hart said.

He dismissed concerns over key midfielders Dayne Beams and Dale Thomas, despite both failing to train fully earlier in the week.

"It was more precautionary," he said.

"At this time of the year you're not going to get any fitter, it's more about getting them through and making sure they're right to go come the game."