If the Magpies fear fatigue ahead of Friday night's AFL preliminary final against Sydney, they are not letting it show.
Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas says two physical finals and a six-day break leading into the match will not be a concern against a far fresher Swans outfit.
Collingwood's 13-point semi-final win over West Coast at the MCG on Saturday was a tough hit-out - the week after the Magpies and Hawthorn hammered each other in an epic qualifying final won by the Hawks.
Thomas admitted the matches took a physical toll, but had full confidence in the Magpies' powers of recuperation ahead of their Olympic stadium clash.
"They (the physical nature of the matches) were probably on par I reckon," Thomas said.
"Last week was a very physical game, a four-quarter effort, but we didn't get the result we were after.
"It's the way you want to go through.
"We'll get the chance to rest and recover, but I think we take a lot of confidence from the way we've been playing the last couple of weeks going into next weekend."
Thomas was the match-winner in the Magpies' 10.13 (73) to 9.6 (60) win over the Eagles.
His three third-quarter goals swung the scoreboard Collingwood's way to mirror all key indicators after the Magpies dominated, yet trailed at half-time.
Collingwood's victory and Adelaide's earlier win over Fremantle ensure the top four at the end of the home-and-away season will battle for spots in the grand final.
Adelaide will play Hawthorn in the other preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday.
AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, perth-6000, wa, australia First posted September 16, 2012 09:58:27
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