Another brick wall trying to remove steering wheel collars

Ok...puzzled again. Seems like this car is fighting me at every step.

Here I am:



I took off the lower c clip and I thought this disk would pop out.

I have gently pried from the bottom and have compressed the stalk so I could look under it and I don't see a way to release this. The service manual doesn't note it.

Do I need to remove the shift handle on the lower collar ? or, do I need to attach my puller and remove the disk ?

Thanks
Ian.