“Essendon is a great side,” Pendlebury said at the Lexus Centre following Collingwood training on Thursday.
“They’re very quick and last year when the chips were down for them they came out [in round 17] and beat us by 12 or 13 goals.
“They’re a very dangerous side and they play an exciting brand of footy so we’re definitely going to have to be on our game to match them.”
The margin was actually 48 points in the round 17 clash at the MCG but this time the Magpies head into the clash warm favourites, with the Bombers resting several players and also missing stars through injury.
Collingwood will also rest Harry O’Brien, Josh Fraser and Nick Maxwell, leaving the 21-year-old Pendlebury to lead his club out for the first time.
“It’ll be exciting,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be something that I haven’t done before and it’ll be a good opportunity to see what it’s like.
“But at the end of the day it’s another game and all the boys are really looking forward to it.”
Collingwood has made no secret this summer of its desire to make an impact in the NAB Cup competition and Pendlebury said players would be raring to go once the siren sounded on Friday.
“Our main focus is obviously round one but, in saying that, we should have a strong side again tomorrow night,” Pendlebury said.
“As soon as the ball’s up, whether it’s the NAB Cup or round one the intent’s still the same and you want to come out with a win.”
Pendlebury doesn’t believe winning the pre-season competition would change anything at the Lexus Centre, but said others might view the Pies differently.
“Maybe expectations outside the footy club [would be] that we start the year well,” he said. “But if we do happen to go all the way or if we get knocked out this week, the focus has got to be the win in round one.”
Dream Team watch - Scott Pendlebury is rated a $389,400 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
