Although McIntosh acknowledged Laidley would have intimate details of his former pupils, the 25-year-old said the strategies of new North Melbourne coach Brad Scott would add intrigue for Laidley and the Power in round one.
"It'll be weird [seeing Dean with Port Adelaide]. I'm sure Dean will have his tactics against us, but we've got a completely new game plan and I'm sure what he knows won't really hold them in too much stead for our new game plan," McIntosh told afl.com.au.
"It (coming up against Laidley) hasn't been discussed much; Laids was my coach for eight years and my first year was his first year."
"I'm very grateful for the opportunities Dean gave me in that time - he let me get in the senior side and play a lot of footy, but Dean's moved on and Brad has been fantastic. I can't speak highly enough of him."
Reigning Syd Barker medallist Andrew Swallow said coming up against Laidley, who coached North Melbourne from 2003-09, would have an impact on the players, but more so on the coaches.
"For Darren Crocker and a couple of the guys that were under Dean, they are probably looking into that more than we are. I think they're trying to get that tactical edge over him," Swallow said.
"I'm sure a few of the players will talk about it before the game."
With McIntosh and Scott now completing their first pre-season under Scott, the duo agrees the first-year senior coach has added freshness to Arden St.
"He sat us down at the start of pre-season and didn't want to put any limits on where we could finish - he wants us to do as well as we can, and I'd love to play finals this year," Swallow said.
McIntosh said Scott was always approachable and more a "mate and mentor" than a typical coach.
"He's always throwing ideas at you and you're always throwing ideas back at him, so he's been fantastic. All of the guys at the club have embraced him really well," he said.
"Now we just really want to get out there and get a few wins on the board - get back up into the finals and play some good footy."
The 203cm tall, who is coming off a fine season after enduring a tough 2008, is now feeling settled in his role and aiming to play for another four or five years.
"'In 2008, it was a rough year for me, getting injured and then being put up for trade - it was a very emotional and physically draining year," McIntosh said.
"Last year in 2009, it was great to bounce back and have a reasonably good and consistent year, getting in the All-Australian squad of 40. That was a bit of a goal of mine at the start of the year, to really bounce back to my best form, and I thought I was able to do that.
"This year is about consolidating and hopefully now getting that consistency in my game to keep doing it year after year and not having too much fluctuation with my form."
