DON'T expect Collingwood insiders to be overly vocal in spruiking the Magpies' 2018 ambitions, with coach Nathan Buckley declaring their intention to let football do the talking.

The Pies have been quiet by their usual standards over the summer months, with most news coming out of the club related to players recovering from injuries.

There haven't been any bold declarations of an expected finals appearance or win/loss related season pass marks.

In fact, it's been very un-Collingwood-like given it was just 19 months ago Buckley declared there was "no way" he could see himself coaching beyond last season if the Magpies didn't return to the finals.

Match preview: Hawthorn v Collingwood

"I'm glad you picked up on that," Buckley said on Tuesday, when asked if the Pies had been more muted this pre-season.

"We probably don't need to spruik or beat our chests; we haven't got that much to spruik or beat our chests about.

"A lot of our focus has been internal. You won't hear as much from me, you won't hear as much from us – we're about preparing as best we can and then executing on the weekends.

"That's what footy's about.

"We've got to impose our game style and play a winning brand of footy consistently enough to be where we want to be, and if that means a little less bravado, that's what it is."

The importance of getting off to a good start against Hawthorn on Saturday night isn't lost on Buckley or the players after shaky starts to their last two campaigns effectively derailed the season.

And the coach, who signed a two-year contract extension in August, said actions would speak louder than words.

"I think I'd like our footy to do the talking first and foremost so everyone can have their opinion when they see it," he said.

"We do believe in contested ball and we think it's away from our strengths to go away from the grunt, contested-ball style.

"We like stoppages, we want to hold the ball in the front half and we want to be aggressive enough to impose our game style on the opposition week in, week out.

"But, talking about it is one thing, and doing it is another.

"We haven't had great starts to the last couple of years, but we can't go back and change that, unfortunately.

"We can do something about it this year, so let's get to Saturday night."

Despite a perceived pre-season injury crisis, the Magpies say they have 40 players available to play in either a VFL practice match on Friday or the season opener against the Hawks.

Buckley announced on Tuesday that last year's No.6 draft selection Jaidyn Stephenson and former Swans rookie Sam Murray will make their AFL debuts on Saturday night.