Key defender Will Thursfield has recovered from an ankle injury and is available for selection to bolster a backline that will still be without suspended pair Alex Rance and Luke McGuane.
Youngster Dylan Grimes will retain his spot after learning a harsh lesson trying to curb Hawthorn's Lance Franklin in last week's 63-point defeat, but the task doesn't get any easier with Magpies' tall forwards Chris Dawes, Travis Cloke and Leigh Brown forming a potent attack.
The Tigers will clearly have their hands full, but Hardwick said his players would not take a backward step.
"We very much look forward to taking them on and seeing how we compete against the best side in the competition," he said on Thursday.
"It's a great challenge for our guys and gives them a real sense of where they're at.
"Obviously last week was disappointing. Our first quarter got blown out, but the last three quarters were relatively competitive, so we're looking for a challenge from our guys this week and we think we can put it up to the Pies.
"The great thing about our guys is they never give up every week. We're capable of kicking big scores … and defensively we're capable of competing.
"We think we're a fair chance."
Hardwick admitted a lot would need to go right for the Tigers to upset the ladder leaders, with his players' approach to winning contested possessions and tackling to be a key focus.
The coach didn't quite borrow Leigh Matthews' famous maxim 'If it bleeds we can kill it', but did say that all teams had chinks in their armour - it was just a matter of exposing them.
"Every side's got their weak spots," he said.
"Unfortunately [for us] they're the reigning premiers so they've got less than most sides. We think there's a couple of areas where we can exploit them, but we need everything going right for us to get that going.
"They're a great side that is well-disciplined and well-coached. They're something we aspire to be, but we're a fair way behind development-wise. They've been playing together for five or six years whereas we're in year two."
The preparation for toppling the Pies didn't get off to an ideal start with Jack Riewoldt facing the press on Monday to explain his theatrics against the Hawks, but Hardwick said the focus quickly switched to Collingwood.
"He's a passionate kid and we move on," he said.
"He's disappointed in his actions and rightly so, but I see worse things on Video Hits every Sunday when my kids are watching.
"He's just got to learn that full-forwards are always going to be under scrutiny. Nick Riewoldt is, Richo was before him and Buddy Franklin is.
"They're an emotional brand of player, but he'll learn from it and keep his emotions in check and hopefully direct his passion on the footy field."
