Geelong coach Mark Thompson has warned not to read too much into the result of Saturday night's AFL blockbuster between his 2007 and 2009 premiers and ladder leaders Collingwood at the MCG.
While the match - the biggest of the 2010 home and away season to date - is being tipped as a sneak preview of this year's grand final, Thompson said the result of the Round 19 clash will mean little come September.
After all, as Thompson pointed out on Tuesday, his side beat St Kilda in last year's grand final after losing to the Saints in an epic home and away encounter mid-season while the previous year the Cats beat Hawthorn in a huge home and away game late in the season before suffering a shock grand final loss to the Hawks.
And in 2007 when the Cats beat Port Adelaide by a record 119 points in the grand final, that result came just weeks after the Power had beaten Geelong at Skilled Stadium in Round 21 - which was the last time the Cats have been beaten at their home ground.
"If we do end up meeting in the grand final based on recent events we should go out and lose this game," Thompson said on Tuesday in emphasising not to read too much into the result of Saturday night's game.
But don't mistake that comment for the Cats not being ready to face the latest challenge to their four year domination of the competition in which they have won a staggering 77 of their past 88 matches.
"Absolutely, we all get excited by these big games - the players and the supporters," he said.
"The media love it too and they build it up and as a coaching team we find it a great challenge and an exciting one too."
And while the Cats have proven themselves time and time again on the big stage in contrast to Collingwood - which has lost five of its past six games against Geelong including a six goal loss earlier this season and a 73 point hiding in last year's preliminary final - which has bowed out early in the past four finals series; Thompson does not believe his side is under any less pressure than the Magpies to win on Saturday night.
"You can say that (Collingwood is under more pressure to win than Geelong) and I would love to give you a headline (by saying that) but it's not the case," he said.
"There is pressure on both of us to go out and actually execute your skills under the pressure of so many people watching on TV and that many people at the game so there is pressure on both teams."
And while Thompson has admitted Collingwood has improved since managing to kick only six goals against the Cats during a six goal defeat back in Round 9, the Cats could not be going into Saturday night's game in any better shape.
Not only will the Cats welcome back 2007 Brownlow Medalist Jimmy Bartel and cult figure James Podsiadly from injury but Mathew Stokes, Joel Corey, Cameron Ling and Paul Chapman - who all pulled up sore following last week's effortless win in Sydney - have all recovered strongly and will be fit to face the Magpies.