Collingwood say the ghosts of finals past won't spook them as they prepare to move from one of the club's highest recent points to confront one of their lowest.

The euphoria of last weekend's thrilling five-point AFL semi-final win over Adelaide could not have contrasted more starkly with the Pies' five-point loss to Geelong in the 2007 preliminary final.

Saturday night's preliminary final at the MCG is a re-match of that game - the Cats attempting to make a third successive grand final and the Pies their first since 2003.

But Magpies veteran Tarkyn Lockyer said previous matches - including that preliminary final - are not being talked about among players or coaching staff in the lead-up to Saturday night.

"Won't even register. It's a different group of players, the coaching staff are different, different game plans, different structures and the same for Geelong," he said.

"You can't really draw any comparisons from 2007 to now."

Midfielder Dale Thomas echoed those thoughts.

"Teams have changed, times have changed, the game's changed," he said.

"It's a long time ago and the only thing you draw out of it is how disappointing it is to lose a preliminary final."

Collingwood's remarkable win over the Crows last Saturday night has been a timely confidence boost, and Lockyer said Geelong's brilliant record over the past three years wouldn't create fear in the young Pies.

"We're confident we can beat anyone. We're confident we can beat Geelong," Lockyer said.

"They are a wonderful team and have proven so over the last couple of years.

"They've certainly been one of, if not the best side in the competition, so we certainly know the challenge in front of us is quite big because they are such a great team.

"In the same breath, if we play our footy and play to the best of our potential, we are quite confident we can get over the line."

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