The Magpies meet Port Adelaide, one of the surprise packets of the pre-season, at Mount Gambier on Saturday in a NAB Challenge game with both clubs selecting strong sides.
Neeld, who will guide Collingwood under coach Mick Malthouse’s pre-season policy to give his assistants match-day experience, said the Pies wouldn’t be treating the match quite like a regular-season fixture.
“There’s always an element of experimentation and there’s always an element of it being a dress rehearsal,” Neeld told afl.com.au.
“We’re preparing for a 22-game season plus finals. There’s always things you’re going to try… you’re always going to try more in a practice match-scenario than what you would when points are available, so there’ll be a bit of both.”
John Anthony, who played his first senior match of the year last week, will enjoy more match time against the Power and the likes of Josh Fraser, Heath Shaw, skipper Nick Maxwell and new recruits Darren Jolly and Luke Ball will all come together to for an imposing-looking Pies outfit.
In fact most of those named for Collingwood will press strongly for selection in round one when the Pies meet the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
That might make Saturday’s clash somewhat of a trial for many players - especially Collingwood’s talent-laden midfield.
Youngster Dayne Beams will play VFL this weekend while fellow 2008 draftee Steele Sidebottom will enjoy a week’s rest ahead of the season.
That pair will add to the selection squeeze ahead of round one.
Neeld, who this season will look after Collingwood’s midfield, admitted fitting so many on-ball types into the senior team would be a challenge - albeit a nice one - ahead of the Bulldogs clash.
“It is a good position [to be in],” Neeld said. “Our role is to come up with a game plan, we have to find the players who can execute it the best, then we also have to think of the players who can work well together - that’s what our challenge is from week to week.
“Every week when you sit down in match committee, it is not as simple as the five or six members of match committee just choosing who they think the best 22 are at the club.”
Along with three genuine ruck options, the Pies possess the running power of Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Leon Davis, Luke Ball, Shane O’Bree, Sidebottom, Beams, Dale Thomas, Sharrod Wellingham, Tarkyn Lockyer and Alan Didak - and that’s leaving some out.
So, how do coaches fit so many regular senior players into only so many midfield slots?
“You can’t, that’s the simple answer,” Neeld said.
“You need to play defenders, you need to play some marking forwards … [but] if you perform your role, you stay in.
“If you’re out of the side, your role is to put as much pressure - through your own performance - on the guys in the AFL team.”
