It’s a big week in football, with no less than five points of interest surrounding the Cats match-up with Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Under pressure 

If the seat underneath Nathan Buckley isn’t tipping an uncomfortable 200° then it can’t be far off it.

Collingwood sit 1-4 in 13^th position as the wagons circle the Holden Centre daily, applying immense pressure to the club, coach and playing group.

That burden is nothing new for the biggest club in the land, and in fairness to the Pies, their four losses have all been margins of 19 points or less.

“Those margins are not great, but they’re significant … we’re not far off but we’re a mile off. That’s the game at the elite level,” said Buckley following the Pies most recent lost on ANZAC Day to Essendon – and as the cliché goes, football is a results-based industry.

As is to be expected, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire went into bat for his club in a passionate response on Triple M this week:

“We’ll never give up, we’ll never dog it,” McGuire said.

“It will be the spirit of Collingwood that will be tested on Sunday afternoon.”

“You either stand up or get out. And our time is to stand up now because we owe our supporters.”

And so an MCG blockbuster between grand old clubs Geelong and Collingwood has now taken on even more meaning. A line has been drawn in the sand, as both the industry and the “Black & White Army” await their response from Buckley and his men.

Nathan Buckley and Collingwood are under immense pressure at 1-4. (AFL Photos)

Five days a week 

But having played on Tuesday, the Magpies will need to make their statement with a less than ideal preparation.

The traditional ANZAC Day fixture against Essendon fell earlier this week on Tuesday, while the Magpies face Geelong on Sunday afternoon.

The rare five-day break has already claimed key defender Ben Reid, who has been managed, and it would not surprise to see further changes closer to the game – such as midfielder Daniel Wells who, as impressive as he was in his first outing for his new club, will be asking a lot of a 32-year-old body with a well-documented injury history.

The Magpies are coming off a five-day break after a wet-slog on ANZAC Day. (AFL Photos)

Playing a Dan down

The Cats have also played the management card, resting in-form forward Daniel Menzel.

The 25-year-old has been outstanding this season, averaging three goals a game and playing a crucial role in a forward structure that’s seen Tom Hawkins kick 18 goals himself to sit second in the Coleman Medal.

But after three knee constructions and the various soft-tissue injuries that come with them, Menzel admits he’ll never be in a position to play every game. His rest comes this week as the Cats face Collingwood, and how Geelong replaces his output in front of goal is a key question facing Chris Scott and forwards coach James Rahilly.

Mercurial forward Daniel Menzel has been rested for the Cats' match-up with Collingwood. (AFL Media)

De-Pendlebury no more?

We’ve come to expect so much from Scott Pendlebury after years of performing as one of the game’s premier midfielders. But for the first time in a long time – perhaps ever – his performance is under scrutiny.

A 20-disposal ANZAC Day typified a lean fortnight for the Collingwood captain who, in round four, found himself benched for all but a few minutes of the third quarter while St Kilda ran away with the game. 

With questions around his health, his form and the way he’s being used, Pendlebury spoke on Collingwood’s club podcast this week and admitted he’s letting the side down.

"Yesterday [ANZAC Day] was my worst game that I've played in 10 years," Pendlebury said.

"I just wasn't impactful … I was very disappointed ... I was very filthy I didn't play my part.”

"It doesn't sit well, knowing you let the side down.”

Collingwood insist he is not injured, but regardless, Scott Pendlebury’s pride has taken a hit. For a star player who does not play a bad game, let alone two in a row, to have a point to prove makes for fascinating viewing on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury is facing questions over his form and his health. (AFL Photos)

Here's looking at you, Levi

After his 43-disposal effort against the Saints last week, in which he singlehandedly kept the Cats afloat in the third term, it’s laughable to suggest Joel Selwood has anything to prove.

But this week he does.

In last year’s 24-point loss to Collingwood, the Cats skipper failed to impact the game thanks to a hard-tag from Levi Greenwood. Selwood gave away four free kicks on that day and was held to just 18 disposals by the Pies’ stopper.

Averaging 32 disposals in 2017 and with a far-better pre-season under his belt than last, the two-time All-Australian captain seems untouchable right now. He will remember his performance against the Pies last year and whether it’s Greenwood or another opponent in black and white that lines up on Selwood, they’ll be in for a tough day at the office.

Collingwood's Levi Greenwood kept Geelong skipper Joel Selwood quiet the last time the Cats met the Pies. (AFL Media)