Not only will the Giants have to overcome a poor record at the finals Mecca, they must contend with a pro-Richmond crowd of about 90,000 on Saturday afternoon.

They have won just once from 11 starts at the venue, their only victory coming against Melbourne in late 2014 when the Demons were in the early stages of their rebuild. At their only start this year at the MCG, they were outplayed by the Tigers after a strong first term, losing in the wet by 19 points.

The Giants' poor record is puzzling given their side is commonly thought to be better suited on larger grounds where they can capitalise on their lightning speed. Star midfielders Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Tom Scully and rebounding pair Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams can all prove dangerous to the Tigers if given space to roam.

Deledio is urging his new teammates to embrace rather than be daunted by the atmosphere generated by the Tigers faithful, who have not seen their team play in a grand final since 1982. The Giants revelled in front of more than 60,000 fans in their debut final last year against Sydney but have otherwise struggled in front of big audiences.

"My advice would be get out there, soak it up, look around and get a feel for what the atmosphere is like," Deledio said. "Once the ball is bounced, forget it and listen to your teammates because that's all you can rely on out there.

"I've played there for 12 years so know what the Tigers supporters are like. They'll be yelling, screaming, no doubt about that, we look forward to that.

"This group really looks forward to playing in front of a huge crowd. We've got a lot of boys here who are built for the MCG.

"They're great young players that thrive on the big stage, the big open spaces of the MCG, we've got some guys who can cover the ground. We'll be looking to utilise that as one of our strengths. We're just looking forward to getting out there and meeting the Tigers head on."

Deledio, a two-time best and fairest winner for Richmond, says he is not worried about the reception from the Tiger army, who turned the ground into a yellow and black cauldron two weeks ago when they defeated Geelong.

Much has changed at Tigerland since Deledio's departure last year, not least their game plan and results. There has also been a marked shift in the dressing room, Deledio said.

"Talking to the boys there, it's about relaxing and enjoying the moment. They've made the place a really fun place to be around," Deledio said. "They're loving their footy. It's obvious and evident in watching them play. They're playing with a lot of confidence at the moment - that's the key to it all."

Deledio has not given much thought to taking on his old club, he says. That can wait until after the game. He has already checked out of a group chat with them.

The 30-year-old celebrates game number 250 but the chance of playing in a grand final takes precedence over a personal milestone, he said.

"It's a great achievement, not a lot of players play 250," Deledio said. "I'd like to add some success to that. That starts this week with giving ourselves every opportunity by winning and getting into a grand final if we can."