Collingwood midfielder Shane O'Bree knows what's coming.

A high intensity AFL preliminary final against Geelong - rivals the Magpies respect and hope that they can use their experience to counter.

Geelong were the team that extinguished the Magpies' hopes at the corresponding stage in 2007, winning their preliminary final by five points in a heart-stopper.

But the `Pies, who have several young players in their ranks, also have a core of players who know all about finals.

O'Bree played in the 2002 and 2003 grand finals and the 2007 preliminary final.

Now he is one of the most experienced players in the side.

And he believes those who've been there before may come to the fore this week, in preparing the younger Magpies for what lies ahead at the MCG on Saturday night.

"We can lean on that the experience side of things. A lot of our group have now played nearly up to double figures in finals," O'Bree said.

"So hopefully the guys who haven't played too many finals, we can talk to them on how to handle preliminary finals.

"We know Geelong's been a great team for three years and it's great we've given ourselves a chance to play in a preliminary final again."

Though only 22, midfielder Dale Thomas was part of the 2007 Magpies side and knows just how the intensity level rises in September.

But he is sure Geelong are beatable - a belief which has blossomed among his teammates following their remarkable semi-final win over Adelaide.

"Finals experience is something that is invaluable this time of year. Hopefully we can draw a bit out of that from playing in the finals the past couple of years," Thomas said.

"Any side believes they can go up against any opponent at any time and beat them and we're no different in that regard.

"You put a team out there and that team's out there to do a job and that's to win.

"We certainly have that belief we can do that."

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