The surgical holes cut in collagen networks are extremely large compared to the length scale accessible to simulation. To match the exploration of rupturing mechanism around small holes discussed in Sec. 2.7, we simulated networks in the effective limit of an infinitely large hole. To mimic the infinitely large hole, we simulated a thin strip of idealised hexagonal network repeated periodically in the y dimension. We repeated the increasing oscillations simulation pattern used in Sec. molecules in the larger strips, each with their own thermal vibrations. With more molecules, the absolute rate of damage increases although the per-molecule rate stays similar. This effect is exacerbated as when the strips become larger, there are proportionally more bulk molecules compared to edge molecules. The effect of the initial damage quickly evens out, as the damage over time in Fig. shows. Here the trajectories show a similar fraction of molecules broken over time regardless of the size of the strip. This indicates reinforces the conclusion of Sec. 2.7, demonstrating that the room for a network to deform into is critical. The importance of space to deform into was seen previously with Fig. , and the same effects are prevalent for thin strips, albeit less strongly, owing to the circular shape of the hole compared to a rectangular strip.