The 21-year-old suffered a broken jaw in the Cats' NAB Challenge clash against the Pies on February 12 at Simonds Stadium.
The severity of the break was graphically revealed in a CT scan image posted on Twitter by his manager Marty Pask in the days after surgery to realign Burbury’s jaw.
After returning in the VFL last weekend, Burbury says he's ready and excited to return to the field for his first AFL game at the MCG.
"Speaking with my coach mentor Max Rooke and my player mentor Jimmy Bartel, we decided the best way for me to approach it was to attack [the VFL] head on," Burbury told the Cats' website.
"So I put my head over the ball in the first contest and I was able to get involved early.
"I got absolutely smashed in the first 30 seconds and I suppose that was a really big confidence booster for me.
"I copped a really big hit and walked away from that unscathed.
"I think that's the way I'll try and go about it against Collingwood, just play my natural game and do what the team asks of me and play my role."
Burbury shattered the jaw in a collision with Nick Maxwell that left him writhing on the ground.
His mouthguard was left in until he had surgery to repair the multiple breaks.
He said he had ticked off all the requirements from his surgeon Richard Wood and the club's doctors and was ready to resume playing on schedule.
Burbury also said he had tested out the jaw at training during the week after a period of non-contact drills following the operation.
"I followed [Wood's] protocol and did what he asked, ate the right foods and I was lucky enough to play in a winning side in the twos last week and very fortunate to be given the call up this week," he said.
"He gave me the all clear to play. We had a look at the scan and there were no obvious signs of a delay in progress so I went ahead and played last week.
"I'm 100 per cent excited, ready to go and looking forward to it."
Burbury's parents will fly over from Tasmania to be at the blockbuster match, where he's expecting to resume his role in the forward line alongside Tom Hawkins.
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
