The five-time All-Australian was in an unfamiliar position at Wednesday's captains' media day, not only battering away concerns about his club's pre-season form from reporters, but also a near-unanimous prediction from his skipper counterparts that the Pies would miss the finals this year.

Only one captain, other than Pendlebury, backed the AFL's biggest club to bounce back from last year's September absence, Collingwood's first in Pendlebury's time at the club.

Compare the results of this year's confidential survey to other years in which the Pies have been a walk-up start in the eyes of their rivals, even last year, when 12 out of 17 captains tipped them to make the eight following on from 2013 (16 captains), 2012 (17), 2011 (16), 2010 (15) and 2009 (12).

A perceived downward trend, significant list turnover across several years, the loss of Dayne Beams, underwhelming performances against the Western Bulldogs and Carlton in the NAB Challenge and a lack of support for key forward Travis Cloke are among several talking points creating external doubt about Collingwood's ability to prove 2014 was just an aberration.

There was more bad news this week when it emerged one of the key short-term replacements for Beams, Levi Greenwood, could be sidelined for two months and possibly more.

The situation has left Pendlebury, once the leader of one of the league's deepest midfield units, turning to unproven talent to make a difference this season alongside fellow premiership on-baller Steele Sidebottom.

Pendlebury named Taylor Adams, team leader for disposals in the NAB Challenge, as someone who would this year "solidify himself as a really good player in the competition", and said No.5 draft pick Jordan De Goey could "add a bit" in his first season.

"With Levi going down it definitely hurts," Pendlebury said.

"But it gives an opportunity for a young guy. Same with Beamsy leaving," he said.

"But actually Beamsy is a good example of that - he got his opportunity when Luke Ball went down.

"So I don't think we have to worry too much, a young guy will stand up.

"But we need a young guy to stand up."

Another uncertain element in the Pies' midfield equation is Dane Swan, who played more forward time last year and has had a "slow build" from a fitness point of view this pre-season, yet could easily return to his prolific best this year and, as Pendlebury put it on Wednesday, "shock a few people".

Pendlebury said he felt the responsibility of leading the midfield more than ever now, and is demanding at training those aspiring to form part of the group, be ready to play their role.

The 27-year-old said he was not worried about his team's preparation leading into round one, and called for supporters to have faith in coach Nathan Buckley.

He said the Pies were "further developed from 12 months earlier", owing to a far healthy playing list compared to last year's scenario where the club had only "28 or 29 to pick from" at one stage, as injuries ravaged their finals chances.

"It's funny, after we beat the Hawthorn in the first [NAB Challenge] game, we were going to win the flag," he said.

"Then two weeks later we lose to Carlton and the Bulldogs and now we are not going to make the finals.

"We just got a good snapshot of what our best footy looks like, and then we got a fair reflection of what it's like when we haven't turned up to play."