Malthouse isn’t looking too far ahead despite knowing his side, now a joint favourite for the premiership, will play either the Saints or the Cats.
Sunday’s clash at Docklands against the Western Bulldogs will determine the Pies’ first-up finals opponent.
A win over the Bulldogs on Sunday – or a narrow loss – would ensure the Pies finish third and take on the Cats. A loss by about four goals or more would see his team slip to fourth and meet the Saints.
But Malthouse isn’t worried about future scenarios and is instead focused on his men continuing their good form.
He suggested if a coach hoped to play, or in fact avoid certain teams in the finals, one could question his faith in his team.
"We are out to win every game of football," Malthouse said from the Lexus Centre following Tuesday’s training session.
"I think winning form is good form. I don’t think there’s any such thing as purposely dropping a game or going hell for it.
"If you avoid an opponent coming into a finals series, you’ve got no confidence in your group."
Having won 12 of their past 13 games, the Pies are the competition’s in-form team and have few injury concerns.
While declaring most challengers for the flag were in a similar position with regards to their lists, he acknowledged Geelong had endured an unsettled line-up in recent weeks.
Many have also suggested Geelong, which has been beaten in four of its past eight matches, has lost its aura in the latter half of the season. Meanwhile the prospect of facing St Kilda, which has lost its past two, also suddenly seems less daunting.
But the Magpies coach believes his team can conquer all challengers.
"We’re not avoiding anyone, we will play the Western Bulldogs this weekend knowing that they’re in very good nick and [then] whoever we may play the following week, we play," he said.
"Avoidance is a shortcoming."
Malthouse knows his side faces a tough task against what he called a hot opponent this weekend.
The Magpies’ clash against the Bulldogs is also the final match of the round – a twilight fixture at Docklands – meaning his team will have a shorter break than any opponent the following week.
He supported the AFL’s stance to reward the competition’s top two teams each season by ensuring they earned a minimum seven-day break following round 22.
But he also supported an alternative system flagged in recent weeks.
"Maybe a moving round 22 … is probably the way to go," he said.
"The inconvenience of it is we think that Sunday afternoon is not flash."
