COLLINGWOOD will again deploy a smaller forward line set-up for Saturday night's clash against Gold Coast, which could force axed forward Travis Cloke to bide his time in the VFL.

Cloke was omitted for the third time this season for last Friday night's three-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. 

The 29-year-old put the disappointment of being dropped behind him, bagging five goals in the VFL on Saturday.

The Magpies will play back-to-back games on the fast deck at Etihad Stadium when they take on the Suns – the Pies' third game at the venue this season.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he was reluctant to make drastic changes given the Magpies' forward line stacked up well at the Docklands venue without Cloke. 

"We thought our forward line handled the challenge of the Bulldogs' running backs pretty well … so it was relatively positive for us at senior level, but Trav's performance at VFL level was encouraging," Buckley told Fox Footy on Monday night.

"When you play like that, you put yourself in the mix but we deliberately went in smaller on an Etihad (Stadium) ground where we know there's speed and agility.

"It's unlikely that we'll go into this game (against the Suns) much different given that we're on the same arena."

Cloke featured in seven consecutive games at the top level before his axing.

His latest demotion would suggest he is not part of the Magpies' long-term plans, as the club builds a forward line centred on young gun Darcy Moore.

However, Buckley reiterated that Cloke was a contracted player for 2017.

"He's contracted next year and we'd expect him to honour that," he said. 

The Magpies' coach revealed how he informed Cloke of his omission last week and the reasoning behind it.

"'We think we can structure our forward line up better this week against this opponent without you, Trav, and these are the reasons for it," Buckley said.

"'Some of it has to do with your form but some of it has to do with the way that we want to have a look at a different forward structure', that's pretty much how it goes."