One Collingwood player stands head and shoulders - literally and psychologically - above his teammates heading into Saturday's AFL grand final against St Kilda.

Towering Magpies ruckman Darren Jolly is the only man in a talented and enthusiastic squad who knows how it feels to lift the premiership cup.

The Saints can actually go one better - they have two. And, ironically, both are also former Swans.

Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster played in Sydney's 2005 flag-winning side - alongside Jolly.

And the trio were back at the MCG the following year for the Swans' one-point loss to West Coast.

Alan Didak and Ben Johnson are the only survivors of Collingwood's most recent losing grand final outfits in 2002 and 2003 certain to play on Saturday, although Leon Davis and Simon Prestigiacomo are also both in the mix.

Jolly's main message to his teammates is to do their best to shut out the hype.

"The week will be as normal as possible," he said.

"Obviously it will be enhanced on Wednesday with the people at training and on Friday with the (grand final) parade.

"The boys are really looking forward to it, they're focused and we'll just treat this week as normal as possible, given that will be probably a little bit different."

Jolly said he would be more settled himself this week, with his past to draw on.

"It will be a little bit better for me given that I've been there before so I suppose the nerves won't be as bad as they were back in `05 and `06," he said.

"I'll be able to talk to the young guys and just make sure that they're focused and are really taking it in and not getting too nervous."

What will be new for Jolly is experiencing grand final week as a member of a big Melbourne club.

And if the Magpies are looking for a good luck charm, Jolly might provide that as well, according to his former coach Paul Roos.

"It's a good omen for him, the first year he went to Sydney we won a flag and the first year he's gone to Collingwood he is playing for a flag," said Roos.

"It's not a bad omen.

"I think with Darren the fact he has played in two is a massive bonus for him.

"He has won one and lost one, you know the difference in feeling between winning and losing."

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