According to Gold Coast assistant Shane O'Bree, the Suns don't find Collingwood intimidating.

But after listening further to O'Bree ahead of Saturday night's AFL clash at Carrara, perhaps they should.

O'Bree sees Collingwood as better than when they claimed last year's premiership - and he should know.

He played 227 games for the Magpies, watching the likes of Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan grow into greatness.

"I think they are a better side than they were last year," said ex-Pies midfielder O'Bree who retired from playing last season.

"I think they have more blokes who can play multiple roles than they have had previously."

Suns coach Guy McKenna has prepared a great sporting upsets showreel to inspire his side ahead of their daunting task.

It features Samoa's rugby boilover against the Wallabies last weekend and the Brisbane Lions toppling then-reigning premiers Essendon in 2001.

As a result, O'Bree insisted his young side were not fazed by the prospect of running out against the game's benchmark.

"They are definitely not intimidating," he said.

"Verbally or physically they are not the harshest team going around but they have that perceived pressure that helps them win a lot of games."

However, minutes later O'Bree gave the Suns some pretty good reasons to be quite afraid.

Asked about their strengths, O'Bree gushed: "They're obviously a very hardened team.

"They have a lot of players that have played over 100 games and they're used to playing 22 rounds and they've got the mental strength and belief of winning the premiership last year.

"They know they can win any game from any situation."

On paper, the Suns (3-12 record; second-last) and Pies (14-1; 1st) have one thing in common - both are last start winners.

McKenna has made no secret he will be using all the inside information he can.

Apart from O'Bree, Suns players Danny Stanley, Sam Iles and Josh Fraser are also ex-Magpies while McKenna spent five years as assistant to Collingwood boss Mick Malthouse.

"Everyone knows how Collingwood plays," he said.

"It's just a matter of playing your game style over four quarters.

"We have seen a lot of teams match Collingwood for three quarters but they blow them away in the fourth."

The Suns may have done plenty of homework on Collingwood but it sounded like the clash would be a learning experience for the Gold Coast.

"The Collingwood midfield have really stamped their authority on the game," O'Bree said.

"I have seen those guys (Swan, Pendlebury, Thomas) since the first day they were drafted and played in their first game with them.

"I would love a lot of our young blokes just to rotate off them, just to get that experience of playing on them.

"They are the premium midfield at the moment so it's a great opportunity for them."

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