Hurt by a tough AFL finals schedule in 2012, Collingwood have refused to gripe about again getting the rough end of the deal leading into this year's post season.
The Magpies are the only likely finalists among the six teams scheduled to play on the Sunday of the final home-and-away round, for which the fixture was announced on Tuesday.
Sitting seventh, it means Collingwood will most likely get a day's less break, perhaps two, than their opponents for what will probably be an elimination final.
The Magpies play North Melbourne at the MCG on the Sunday of round 23.
The AFL fixtured Hawthorn's clash with Sydney at ANZ Stadium for the Friday night - trumping the NRL which also wanted a game there that night - to ensure the top-placed Hawks are given the advantage of the longest possible break leading into finals.
That left the weekend's two MCG games to be split between the Saturday and Sunday.
The AFL scheduled likely finalists Essendon and Richmond to meet on the Saturday night because they're higher placed than the Magpies.
Collingwood will now push to play their opening final on a Sunday to get a seven-day break.
But coach Nathan Buckley and chief executive Gary Pert were more concerned with the Magpies' current form than their finals schedule.
"We understand the way the system works, in that the rewards go to those who finish highest," Pert said.
"We've got no problem with that.
"What's important for us is to concentrate on making our preparation as sharp as it can possibly be."
Collingwood were also given a tough run in last year's finals, when they sat fourth.
They lost to Hawthorn in a Friday night qualifying final, coming off a six-day break compared to the Hawks' seven.
Their campaign ended with a preliminary final loss to Sydney a fortnight later, when not only did they come off a six-day break compared to the Swans' 13 but attended the funeral of former teammate John McCarthy the day before.
The AFL's hand was forced on that occasion, when they wanted to fixture the ANZ Stadium game on the Saturday night, but an NRL preliminary final took preference.
That also meant Hawthorn were given a shorter lead-in to the grand final than the Swans, despite being the top team, which the AFL admitted was unfair.
Fremantle, Brisbane and Carlton, who along with the Hawks must travel interstate for this year's last home-and-away round, all play on Saturday afternoon so they can fly home that night.
Adelaide play in Perth against West Coast that Saturday night but, as they sit 12th, are finals long shots.
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