AFTER a concerning month dealing with the effects of multiple concussions, Collingwood defender Ben Sinclair is back in business, adding dependability to a Pies backline that has endured its struggles in 2016.

Sinclair had his best game for the season against Carlton last weekend, collecting 24 disposals and employing his run and carry to great effect with four inside 50s.

With a noticeable bounce in his step, Sinclair's confidence was in stark contrast to his mindset earlier in the season, when he was unsure what his football future would hold after several hits to the head.

"Going in to have a brain scan is pretty full-on," Sinclair told AFL.com.au.

"I wasn't trying to think about it too much, but having a few knocks in the first part of the year was playing on my mind."

Sinclair was concussed twice earlier in the season; firstly in round four, when he copped a forearm across the face against Melbourne, and then in round six when an errant elbow against West Coast forced him from the field.

A knock at training ahead of the Pies' clash against Geelong in round nine made it three concussions in the space of a month for Sinclair, causing alarm bells to ring for the Magpies.

Sinclair reported dizziness and nausea, and the symptoms lingered even while he was at training over the following weeks.

Sinclair also experienced blurred vision during a high-intensity running session at training in that period, leading Collingwood's medical staff to send him to a neuropsychologist.

Any concussion is classified as a mild form of traumatic brain injury, and a neuropsychologist specialises in understanding the brain's function and how disorders in the brain can alter behaviour and cognitive function.

How to handle concussion has been a hot topic in the AFL over the past three seasons, prompting stricter rules in 2016 on when players can return to the field.

The issue has been highlighted in the cases of Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw, and, more recently, St Kilda's Paddy McCartin, who is out indefinitely after his third head knock this season.

"The medical staff are quite conscious of it and the process is much better now than what it was a few years ago," Sinclair said.

"They used to put blokes out on the ground after head knocks and heavy concussions, which doesn't happen now. It's definitely a good step in the right direction."

Now symptom-free and with the hamstring issues that dogged him throughout 2014 and 2015 seemingly behind him, Sinclair – who has now played 60 games – is hopeful he can get back to playing consistent football for the rest of the season.

Coach Nathan Buckley has long been a fan of the small defender, with Sinclair combining speed off the mark with versatility in matching up on different opponents.

Sinclair's defensive role will be crucial when the Magpies tackle Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

No longer just reliant on key forward Jeremy Cameron, the Giants have a number of attacking weapons at their disposal, and their unpredictability makes them difficult to contend with.

Mid-sized forwards Steve Johnson and Toby Greene have booted 28 goals apiece this season, equal to Cameron at the top of the Giants' goal-kicking tally.

"They're a pretty attacking young side, so hopefully if we can stop that we can challenge them and even knock them off," Sinclair said.

"As a back six we're definitely going to be on our game, and we're going to have defend really well."