VETERAN wingman Steele Sidebottom has welcomed Collingwood's additional week off despite suggestions another break could hamper their premiership chances.

Since 2016, when the League introduced a pre-finals bye, only 50 per cent of qualifying final winners have backed up to reach the Grand Final.

The schedule leaves those teams with one game in about four weeks - a significant shift from weekly matches throughout the home-and-away season.

Collingwood famously knocked off qualifying final winners Richmond in a 2018 preliminary final, but fell victim to the extended break a year later in a loss to Greater Western Sydney.

Sidebottom played in both those matches and isn't concerned about the Magpies losing momentum this season.

The 307-game veteran will make the most of the downtime as Collingwood waits to discover whether they'll face Port Adelaide or the Giants next week for a spot in the Grand Final.

"With finals pressure I still feel a little bit sore today, so to be able to have a week off and rest is going to be good for everyone," Sidebottom told reporters on Monday.

"If you ask any team, they would've preferred to have the week off. We'll definitely use it as an advantage.

"We've played 24 games now, so an extra week (off) is advantageous.

"We lost that (2019) game but that's in the past. It's a long time ago now and we're a completely different team."

The additional break gives Collingwood's emerging superstar Nick Daicos another week to prove his fitness after he fractured his right knee during the round 21 loss to Hawthorn.

The Brownlow Medal fancy was initially given a six-week recovery time frame and appears likely to return in the preliminary final.

"I'm sure he's happy that we got the result. It gives him an extra week to get ready," Sidebottom said.

"Nick's an ultimate professional and we've got such good people at this footy club that have the best interests for him.

"I'm sure if he wasn't right then they wouldn't be rolling him out to play, but it's just good that we get that extra week now for him to get himself right."

Sidebottom does not expect coach Craig McRae to wrap Daicos in cotton wool in his return appearance.

"(Daicos) has shown that he can play anywhere on the ground," Sidebottom said.

"I'd just be happy for Nick to be on the park, wherever that is.

"He's a special player and he's someone that's only going to help our team."