Nick Daicos wants the end of their win over Carlton to be the start of the AFL Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon.
As much as the Magpies know they are never out of a game, their star onballer said they need to pace themselves better and not leave so much until so late.
After only managing six goals to three-quarter time last Thursday night, they piled on seven in the last quarter. Daicos led the way in his 100th game and kicked a contender for goal of the year in the final term as they overwhelmed the Blues.
They will start favourites this Saturday, but Essendon have improved over the last couple of weeks. A slow start from Collingwood would be particularly dangerous, given the Bombers' growing confidence.
In all Collingwood's three wins this season, they were ahead at quarter time.
"That's something we'll definitely work through ... how do you find that balance of trying to attack (and defend), because we don't want to be down heading into the last quarter, to wait to have that mindset," Daicos said.
"We want to be proactive with it, we want to come out this week in the first quarter and be able to kick seven goals.
"We'll work out the mental side and why that's happening, but the ability to kick seven goals when the game is on the line is also a strength too."
It was certainly a strength three years ago when Daicos won the Anzac medal as best afield in the annual blockbuster.
Again, Collingwood kicked seven goals in the last quarter to stage a 41-point turnaround and win. They would go on to win the premiership that season.
"It feels like a while ago. It ended up being a good year for the 'Pies," Daicos said.
"We've always had the belief as a team that no matter the margin at three-quarter time, we can come back. And Fly (coach Craig McRae) has always been really big on kicking the last goal of the game.
"That's something we'll always carry with us and we know that if it gets to that scenario at three-quarter time when we need to score and chase a team down, we can definitely do that."
Six rounds into the season, the jury remains out on Collingwood. They have a 3-3 record, featuring losses to likely top-four contenders Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle.
"We probably haven't shown enough consistency to warrant being a top-four lock," Daicos said.
"But our best footy can match it with anyone, it's just about how consistently we can produce (that)."