COLLINGWOOD will rest its best three midfielders and its first-choice ruckman as part of a conservative approach to Thursday night’s JLT Community Series opener against Essendon.

The Magpies will be without superstar skipper Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams as well as ace big man Brodie Grundy and star recruit Daniel Wells for the pre-season game.

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The five players are crucial to Nathan Buckley’s push for a finals berth this season and completed some extra training on Tuesday instead of playing at Etihad Stadium.

All five Magpies are expected to play in Collingwood’s second pre-season game against Fremantle in Mandurah, WA, on Saturday March 4.

media_camera Scott Pendlebury will miss Thursday’s game. media_camera As will midfield partner Adam Treloar.

The Magpies play their final JLT pre-season game against Richmond seven days later in Moe.

Their absence means the Magpies will field a relatively youthful midfield unit and a second-string ruck set-up against an Essendon side featuring comeback stars Dyson Heppell and Jobe Watson.

No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath will also make his Essendon debut.

The Magpies will welcome Matthew Scharenberg back after a second knee reconstruction, while Jamie Elliott will also return from last year’s back problems.

Father-son livewire Josh Daicos will also get his first taste of top-line football.

COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON

Thursday, February 16 at Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm (EDT)

MAGPIES

1. Alex Fasolo, 2. Jordan De Goey, 5. Jamie Elliott, 6. Tyson Goldsack, 9. Jesse White, 11. Jarryd Blair, 12. Matthew Scharenberg, 14. James Aish, 15. Lynden Dunn, 16. Chris Mayne, 18. Travis Varcoe, 19. Levi Greenwood, 21. Tom Phillips, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 23. Lachlan Keeffe, 25. Jack Crisp, 26. Josh Daicos, 28. Ben Sinclair, 30. Darcy Moore, 31. Jackson Ramsay, 32. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 37. Brayden Maynard, 38. Jeremy Howe, 40. Josh Smith, 41. Henry Schade, 43. Adam Oxley, 44. Liam Mackie, 45. Max Lynch, 46. Mason Cox

BOMBERS

1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 13. Orazio Fantasia, 15. Josh Green, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 23. David Myers, 24. Craig Bird, 28. Mitch Brown, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 47. James Kelly, 49. Matt Dea