JAMES Clement talked up an even contribution across the team. Dale Thomas reckoned that, for his part anyhow, Collingwood's young guns were ready to fire in Saturday night's elimination final against Sydney at the MCG.

Speaking separately yesterday, both Clement and Thomas acknowledged Collingwood's young brigade — Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, Tyson Goldsack and Harry O'Brien among them — have been major contributors to the team's success this season.

Partly that has been a matter of necessity, due to an injury list that was at times both long and disproportionately made up of senior and key position players.

Clement, twice a club best and fairest and twice an All-Australian, was one of the injured. He acknowledged the team's reliance on youth this year: "They're very important. They've taken giant steps. They're a vital part of the machine."

But the team was not overly reliant on the youngsters, nor did it need them to bring a touch of unpredictability and brilliance. "An even spread of contribution," was what it was about, Clement said. "Know your role, play your role, that's it."

Clement said the fact selectors couldn't find room for one Magpie in their initial 40-man list of All-Australian nominations was testament to his side's evenness.

"The players are well aware that it's a pretty subjective process and it's an opinion of a small panel of people," Clement said. "But that said, to have a squad of 40 and to leave out the likes of Tarkyn Lockyer and Heath Shaw is very surprising.

"I suppose that is a testament to the evenness of the side and the contribution that each player has made this year."

Thomas, said Clement, was "a special footballer" capable of doing things that, despite years of experience, were beyond him.

Right from his debut with two goals and a spectacular mark against Adelaide in round one last year, Thomas has given every indication of being a big-occasion player. He shied away from the tag yesterday — "you just try to play good when it matters; you try to play your best and play a role for the team" — suggesting every player relished playing in finals.

"Finals bring out the best in everyone," said Thomas, suggesting that spring weather and big occasions were a spur right across the board.

On more solid ground, Thomas said that the Magpies would be looking to their two wins over Sydney this season for motivation, but would not be going back to last year's insipid elimination final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

The Magpies are a completely different side now, he said.

"That's 12 months ago," Thomas said. "We've got new players, different players and I don't think we'll be going back there to draw on anything."

But the wins against the Swans — by 25 points in round 21 and by 19 in round 12 — were another matter. Thomas said that Sydney was "a quality side" which was "finals proven".

Injured ruckman Josh Fraser remains in contention to return from what the club says is an ankle injury.

Michael O'Loughlin was less reticent in suggesting Sydney would learn from the two games. Intensity was the key to beating Collingwood this weekend, the veteran Sydney forward said.

O'Loughlin believes if the 2005 premier and 2006 runner-up plays with the same intensity that enabled it to thump Hawthorn last Sunday, the tables can be turned. He says the Swans have simply lacked intensity against the Magpies this year.

"When we've played them we haven't brought that to the table," he said. "It's certainly something you need to play against them — especially in the finals."

O'Loughlin welcomed the return of spearhead Barry Hall from injury, dismissing suggestions the Swans played better last week against Hawthorn without him.

O'Loughlin, who will break Vic Belcher's South Melbourne/Sydney club record of 17 finals this weekend, said the opening minutes would be crucial in silencing the hostile Melbourne crowd.

Defender Craig Bolton, who will play his 150th AFL match on Saturday, said: "We know it's going to be a pro-Collingwood crowd but playing at the MCG … it's what you want to play for."

Along with Hall, the Swans are expected to be boosted by the return of Tadhg Kennelly from a knee injury.