Collingwood veteran Tarkyn Lockyer insists his team's hunger for success has not been satisfied by Saturday night's thrilling semi-final win over Adelaide as the Pies quickly shift their focus to this week's preliminary final showdown with Geelong.
The Cats, who are aiming to reach their third straight grand final, will go into the game as heavy favourites - particularly after having the week off - while in contrast there are concerns over how the Pies will back-up from the emotional high of Saturday night's last gasp win over Adelaide in a game that was played in unseasonal 30 degree heat.
Collingwood was forced to come from 32 points down - off a six day break - to beat the Crows by five points with victory not secured until the last 30 seconds when John Anthony goaled from a free kick to spark some of the most emotional post-match scenes seen at the MCG outside of a grand final.
But Lockyer said on Monday the Pies were far from happy at just reaching the penultimate week of the season in declaring his team just as desperate to win Saturday night's preliminary final as a Geelong side seeking atonement for last year's shock grand final loss to Hawthorn.
"Pretty quickly the focus turns from the past to the opportunity we have got this week," Lockyer said.
"I suppose the biggest amount of euphoria and expectation comes from outside the footy club (following the win over Adelaide) but as players you move on quickly."
While the Pies famously handed Geelong its only home and away defeat in 2008 as well as running the Cats to five points in an epic preliminary final showdown two years ago; Geelong has won three of the past four encounters as well as thumping the Pies by 76 points in this year's NAB Cup grand final.
Lockyer said if the Pies are to reverse that heartbreaking preliminary final defeat of two years ago then they could not start as poorly as they did against Adelaide on Saturday night when the Crows kicked six goals to one in the first term.
The Pies are also conscious that the Cats blew the Bulldogs away with a six goal to two opening quarter during their qualifying final win a fortnight ago.
"You want to get the runs on the board pretty quickly," Lockyer said of the need to start well against Geelong.
"I'm sure you don't want to be 32 points