The Crows host the Pies on Thursday night in an opening fixture of the finals to be contested amid a simmering backdrop.
After the most recent clash of the clubs on August 16, Adelaide star Izak Rankine was banned for four games for a homophobic slur against a Magpies opponent.
There were reports that Rankine's mindset had been impacted by sledging from Dan Houston and other Collingwood players.
Houston, playing for Port Adelaide in August last year, knocked Rankine out with a crude bump that led to a five-game suspension.
Houston then joined the Magpies and reportedly taunted Rankine about the incident during the recent Adelaide-Collingwood encounter.
Those reports will heighten a hostile attention on Houston from the Adelaide Oval crowd on Thursday night, but Nicks has called for calm.
"We have talked about in the state, we have acknowledged the lid is off," Nicks said.
"Come down and enjoy a good game of footy. Obviously be respectful, like we talk about all the time.
"It's like with any sport, whether it's kids' sport or whether it's the highest level, there's a certain respect that we have to stand by.
"But people love the footy. It will be a fantastic atmosphere, so come down and enjoy."
But Nicks said rather than fan behaviour, he had other things front of mind: chiefly, stifling the influence of Collingwood's star players.
In the August 16 game that Adelaide won by three points, Nicks deployed Lachlan Murphy to tag Magpie half-back Josh Daicos.
Murphy has been overlooked for selection for the final, but Daicos and his brother, Brownlow Medal favourite Nick, loom large.
"The challenge with Collingwood is there are so many talented individuals that impact the game in a big way," Nicks said.
"Josh is one, but it goes on and on.
"We focus on what we do well. We have been preparing all season to play finals footy.
"It has been a brand that we've been pretty proud of, even when not winning games of footy ... we enjoy the contest, we like to tackle, like to break tackles - it's the way we play our footy.
"And so now we've got a chance to test ourselves on the real stage."
Nicks has recalled Max Michalanney and Luke Pedlar, both recovered from hamstring injuries, for the Crows' first final since 2017. They replace the dropped Sid Draper and Billy Dowling.
Collingwood axed out-of-form forward Dan McStay and Jeremy Howe was ruled out because of a groin injury, with Mason Cox and Will Parker summoned.Â
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