A TRIO of young guns have given Collingwood fans reason for excitement as they train the house down during pre-season.

High-flyer Jeremy Howe says James Aish, Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard were the three standouts as the Pies prepare for redemption in season 2018.

“The physicality’s gone through the roof from day one,” Howe said.

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“(It’s) good to see the young boys are really setting the tone. We want the young boys coming through and they stood out over the older boys today for sure.”

Howe said 22-year-old Aish was “on fire”, while 21-year-old Moore’s fitness levels were already at a high standard.

But it is Maynard, 21, who he expects to make a big leap this season.

media_camera Ben Crocker and James Aish complete a marking drill. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s probably going to have a stint between halfback and midfield this year,” Howe said.

“He’s running extremely well, he’s a competitive beast (and) I think that’s why he can add a bit in the midfield this year ... he’s dropped a couple of kegs and moving really well.”

Captain Scott Pendlebury trained with the main group despite the finger injury he picked up during the first International Rules clash with Ireland. Howe said they couldn’t stop him from hitting the track.

“Unless you hold him down and cuff him to the pole around the outside (that) is about the only way you’ll get Pendles off the track,” Howe said.

“Marking and tackling is the only things he can’t do, but he wants to be out there keeping his fitness up so everyone else just marks it and gives him the ball.

media_camera Tom Phillips and Brayden Maynard complete a boxing drill. Picture: Getty Images

“He’ll be out there for the majority of the pre-season.”

He said Jamie Elliott’s ankle injury was a blow, but was hopeful he’d be fit and firing for Round 1.

“It’s the same ankle as this season (2017) — the idea was to try and rest him over the off-season and see how it was going to go, but clearly it’s flared up again, so he’s obviously gone in for surgery,” Howe said.

“For us, clearly he’s an important player, but he’ll get it right, do everything that he can, and late January hopefully he’ll be cherry ripe and be back in the main group, so he’ll be good to go when we start playing games.”

media_camera Darcy Moore in action during pre-season training. Picture: Michael Klein

Howe said the club was doing things differently in preseason, going straight into match simulation in a bid to make the finals for the first time since 2012.

“Everyone can run as many laps as you want around the outside, but it’s the match simulation fitness that everyone wants,” he said.