They are Collingwood's team within a team.

The Magpies' backline has arguably been the team's most reliable and consistent component during their march to Saturday's AFL grand final against St Kilda.

And a large part of moulding the back six into the formidable unit they have become in 2010 was done in the pre-season.

Collingwood backline coach Scott Watters made the defenders team up in everything from footy training drills to light-hearted handball games - building a bond which has helped drive their season.

"Pre-season we did a lot together as a group - kind of like a back team rather than being part of the rest of the group," Collingwood defender Alan Toovey told AAP.

"The games that we played pre-season, you'd have different teams and we'd always be a backline team.

"Just handball games, little fitness work games, moving the ball around, training drills. That kind of sparked it off I think for the season."

In their 24 matches this season, the Pies defence has restricted opponents to less than 11 goals on average per game.

Only twice have they conceded more than 100 points in a match - and the Magpies actually won both games.

Players like Toovey and youngster Ben Reid were unheralded at the start of the season. But they have blossomed in 2010, playing their roles to perfection.

Toovey, a rookie list graduate who hails from the West Australian country town of Frankland River, 380km south of Perth, has been arguably the biggest surprise.

The 23-year-old has played all 24 games for the Pies this season, and according to Watters has developed into not just a regular starter, but a leader.

"Alan Toovey leads in a very unassuming but important way, so we think we've grown as a group and that's shown in the consistency of our performances," Watters said.

"For a young group, they're actually very level-headed, very mature."

The Collingwood defence's toughest test awaits against a Saints forward line boasting the near-unstoppable Nick Riewoldt, the unpredictable Steven Milne and premiership player Adam Schneider - perhaps Toovey's direct opponent on Saturday.

But Watters believes his back six will be able to cope with whatever the Saints can dish up.

"I don't have any fear about our group not being able to handle a challenge - I think they love a challenge," Watters said.

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