A SORE Jeremy Howe says a six-day break before a potential preliminary final date with Richmond wouldn't faze Collingwood, as discussion continues around finals fixturing.

Howe played his first game since round 19 in Saturday's qualifying loss to West Coast, having missed a chunk of the season with concussion and a serious corkie in his thigh that required a draining procedure to aid recovery.

Collingwood and GWS will meet in their semi-final clash on Saturday night, with the winner to take on a Richmond side which will have had more than two weeks' break just six days later.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire took aim at the scheduling on Triple M on Monday, saying the AFL "have completely cocked this up."

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Asked about the effects of a six-day break, Howe said it will be "no issue".

"We've had six-day breaks throughout the year and it hasn't really affected us as a team, so it definitely won't be any excuse," Howe said.

"If we manage to get the result, which would be fantastic, the excitement and the enjoyment will get us through, whether it's a six-day break or a seven-day break."

Howe said his thigh was fine, he was just suffering from general soreness.

"Pretty sore, first game back and travelling (to Perth), just general soreness all over. My legs are pretty stiff, but I'll get moving today, a bit of recovery and then get into next week," Howe said.

The high-flying defender will potentially line up on mercurial Giants forward Toby Greene, who courted controversy after using his feet to fend off opponents while marking in Saturday's big win over Sydney.

The Collingwood defender was light-hearted when asked how he would respond if Greene kicked at him while attempting to mark.

"I'll kick him back," Howe said with a straight face before breaking into laughter.

"Nah look, it's a technique that, clearly he's undersized, uses it to his advantage. We'll play to our own strengths.

"You can use your arm, you can use your foot, there's no rule to say you can't. If he jumps up and knees someone in the head it's probably the same, so it's a strength of his and good luck to him."

Elsewhere, Howe's teammate Adam Treloar told reporters he had pulled up well after returning from two torn hamstrings against West Coast, but would be more sensible in his running patterns next week.

"It was nice to get back personally. I think there were a few doubters out there who didn't think I'd get back or [even] get back and last the game. So, it was nice to get back, but very, very disappointed with the result," Treloar said.

"I'm 100 per cent ready to go and I think I was [last week], I just need to get used to the speed of the game a little bit more. You can't really train finals football and I've never played one before. The intensity on the weekend was the highest it's ever been."

Treloar had 24 disposals and one tackle but failed to record a mark in the high-pressure affair.

"I sort of started off like a headless chook and running around like it was my first game again, it takes it out of you a bit, especially with the intensity of the game," he said.

"Just getting used to the feel of it again is going to be the best thing for me. Like I said, you can't replicate finals footy, but now I know what to expect. I know the Giants are a very good pressure team and it's going to be like that, then I'm better off for the run."