Scott Pendlebury will lead Collingwood again this season. That is not a surprise – the question will be whether he is the leader who takes them back into finals and beyond that into flag contention.

President Eddie McGuire will launch Collingwood's season on Tuesday night with Pendlebury expected to be confirmed as captain for a fourth season. With Nathan Brown now at St Kilda and Brent Macaffer retired, the leadership group will change slightly.

McGuire will launch what shapes as the most compelling of seasons for Collingwood. Having missed the finals for three years during a rebuild of the team, it is doubtful a fourth missed September campaign would be accepted without casualties at the league's biggest club.

To that end, the club enters its season like some other clubs, with its best 22 not entirely clear. While injuries hurt Collingwood's chances last year, and they have a few minor niggling concerns early this year, the bulk of their best players are available.