It's judgement day for Collingwood on Anzac Day.
That is the opinion of the Pies' own coach Mick Malthouse, who is anxious to see whether his young team can withstand the pressure that comes with playing on the biggest day on the AFL calendar outside of grand final day.
The Pies, surprisingly struggling with just two wins in the first five games, simply must beat Matthew Knights' inexperienced and injury-hit Essendon side on Friday if they are to live up to the expectations placed on them this season following last year's gallant preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Geelong.
Collingwood faces unbeaten pair Hawthorn and Geelong as well as highly-rated St Kilda immediately after its traditional clash with Essendon and could soon find itself adrift of the top eight, let alone the top four, if its recent two match losing streak is not halted quickly.
The Pies will have several newcomers to the pressure of Anzac Day on Friday including key defenders Tyson Goldsack and Nathan Brown, fourth gamer Ryan Cook and former Brisbane ruckman Cameron Wood.
And they will go into the biggest clash of the home and away season, in front of an expected 90,000 plus crowd, without skipper Scott Burns and the experienced Brodie Holland due to injury.
Malthouse admits the clash is a major test for his players - the sort of game that can define careers.
"It's a highly emotional game and it will be a judgemental day," Malthouse declared on Wednesday.
"I will be judging players on their capacity to play before a big crowd and the occasion."
"I have always rated finals as a precursor to whether you keep players on your list or not - whether they can hold up under that pressure - and I don't really see a great deal of difference in this game."
"My players are expected to hold up on this day."
Malthouse said he did not expect to be forced into any late changes - as the Pies come off their second successive six day break leading into the game - denying key forward Anthony Rocca would be a late withdrawal.
Rocca, who did not train on Tuesday, was again absent from the Pies' final training session on Thursday.
"He (Rocca) has done enough though and side we picked is the side we expect to run down the race," Malthouse said.
"Anthony is a little bit sore otherwise he would be out there (training) but we are not about to declare every injury."
"There are a lot of players out there carrying bits and pieces and they will continue to do throughout the year."