COLLINGWOOD will attempt to have Dale Thomas available for Monday's Queen's Birthday clash with Melbourne at the MCG by challenging his striking charge at Tuesday night's tribunal.

The Magpies are not risking anything by contesting Thomas' charge as his five-year good record, which reduces his initial two-week sanction by 25 per cent to a one-match suspension, will remain intact even if they lose.

Thomas could have taken a one-match sanction and 26.56 points towards his future record for the strike against St Kilda's Clint Jones with an early guilty plea.

Instead, the Pies will try to defend the in-form midfielder. A failed challenge will result in the same match sanction and 68.75 points for the next 12 months.

The tribunal will sit at 5pm on Tuesday night.