Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell says the remaining veterans from the Magpies' two grand final losses this decade are desperate not to let another AFL premiership chance slip.

The Magpies will enter Saturday night's MCG preliminary final against Geelong as clear underdogs.

But after the relief of their nail-biting comeback semi-final win over Adelaide last Saturday night, Maxwell said they were wary of letting that emotion dull their appetite to go further.

"We're thrilled that we've reached this preliminary final," Maxwell said.

"At the moment we just don't want to let (the chance) go, you don't want to take the emotion of Saturday night and have a letdown this weekend.

"Quite often that happens and we're very aware of that."

Maxwell said the senior players in particular were trying to - the importance of making the most of the opportunity.

The Magpies have eight players left on their list who were part of one or both of their 2002 and 2003 grand final losses to Brisbane - Josh Fraser, Alan Didak, Shane O'Bree, Leon Davis, Simon Prestigiacomo, Ben Johnson, Anthony Rocca and Tarkyn Lockyer.

Maxwell, who made his own debut the following season, said those players in particular had pushed the need to seize the moment.

"We have got a really good balance of senior players, middle range down to the young guys," he said.

"I know the senior players, it's something that they're driving.

"We've probably got ... eight guys who played in the 2002-2003 team who obviously are really disappointed with how their seasons finished then.

"We've got a lot of guys who are just desperate to be part of a premiership and the preliminary final's the first step."

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