NEW COLLINGWOOD skipper Scott Burns believes the club has better depth than last year, when it went down to eventual premier Geelong by five points in a preliminary final.

Burns, speaking at the AFL's captains' day at Telstra Dome on Thursday, said the club's "internal pressure" was helping create a Collingwood list that was placing great expectations on the 22 representing the Pies each round.

"To me [internal pressure] was the main reason why we – I wouldn't say [had] success –but was the reason why we got to grand finals in '02 and '03," he said.

"There were times when [former players] Rupert Betheras, Glenn Freeborn and Heath Scotland were playing reserves and they were easily good enough to play in our seniors and be in the best players, so we're starting to get that again.

"The best thing for us was having those injuries in a lot of ways, so we could blood those players and we really want them to take the next step.

“It doesn't matter whether you're a one- or two-year player, middle-tier or a senior player – if you're not going to try and improve your footy, you might be under the pump a bit this year at Collingwood."

The 33-year-old said he would continue to play a similar on-field role this year, mixing time in the middle and on the bench, which he acknowledged had extended his AFL career.

"There is no doubt the way Mick [Malthouse] has played me over the last four or five years has helped extend my career and it definitely won't be changing at all," Burns said.

"As I get a little bit older and as each year goes by, my game time will probably reduce in some ways.

“All I can do is try myself to play 22 games and 100 per cent of game time, but we've got a good mix in the midfield at the moment with a lot of rotations."