Little rides on the Friday night meeting, although a loss to Geelong and a big win to Hawthorn over Gold Coast could see the Hawks sneak into second place on the ladder.
The Magpies will meet West Coast in the first week of the finals, while Geelong will play Hawthorn.
Speaking on SEN radio on Sunday afternoon Malthouse said, "We certainly believe we need to rehearse - we don't believe in half rehearsing.
"But you can rehearse with different players, with your intensity and game structure in place."
He said he would pick a team that gave the Magpies an advantage for the following week, "not necessarily the best one we can put on the park".
Malthouse said he would not seek to hold back anything tactically against the Cats next week.
"If I don't know Geelong's game plan now I never will. You are only fooling yourself if you try to hide your game structure."
The Magpies coach said injured captain Nick Maxwell was "a week away or thereabouts" from returning from his broken thumb, considerably ahead of schedule.
He was named on Collingwood's injury list as being three or four weeks from playing, but Malthouse said the skipper was recovering well, acknowledging that he faced "a juggling act" to fit everyone into the team, with Heath Shaw set to return from suspension in the first week of the finals and Sharrod Wellingham nearing fitness after groin problems.
Malthouse also said speculation about his future at Collingwood was "becoming very annoying".
He is contracted to hand over the reins to assistant Nathan Buckley at the end of the season to take up a role as director of coaching, but it has been widely reported that he will walk away from the Magpies.
With the finals approaching, Malthouse said talks about his new role were the last thing on his mind.
"I have got greater issues in front of me."
