VENUE & TIME: Gabba, Saturday 19 July, 7.10pm AEST.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Brisbane 5, West Coast 13
LAST TIME: West Coast 14.8 (92) def. Brisbane 11.10 (76), Round 1, 2008 at Subiaco.

WALKING WOUNDED: Jonathan Brown has an iffy hip and must convince the doc that he's alright to maul the Eagles. If he doesn't, and team-mate Simon Black's shoulder is bad enough to keep him sidelined, there'll be a little less colour than usual for the Lions. Joel Macdonald (knee) won't be considered this week but is nearing a return which is more that can be said for veteran Nigel Lappin (Achilles). West Coast has plenty of problems but not all of them come in the medical room. Daniel Kerr will begin his three-week suspension, his second ban of the season, and as punishment will have to watch his side, possibly alongside John Worsfold. Joining him on the sidelines will be Chris Masten (groin), Shannon Hurn (leg) and possibly Sam Butler (groin) and Mark LeCras (knee).

FORM: The Eagles don't have any to speak of. It's been a terrible six weeks for a club that was sitting second at this stage of last season. On Sunday a 77-point mauling by the Tigers made took their record to 2-13 and only percentage from last position on the ladder. Brisbane looked on track to challenge for a place in the top-four before losses to Melbourne and Essendon. The Lions are 8-6 and will relish the chance to get back to winning ways on home turf.

WHO'S HOT: Travis Johnstone, the precocious No.1 draft pick from a decade ago, was a risky investment for Brisbane. Leigh Matthews sent a first-round pick south for the up-and-down grandson of Fitzroy legend Norm Johnstone. While it is too early to label his move a success, the 27-year-old has been more than serviceable to date. Back from a hamstring injury for the meeting with Essendon, Johnstone lifted the Lions in the third term and finished as his side's best player. Hard to find anyone approaching lukewarm for West Coast but young defender Tim Houlihan looks like he'll make it. The 19-year-old racked up 20 touches in his seventh game last weekend against the Tigers and works hard when he doesn't have the footy.

WE THINK: Brisbane is fast developing a habit of losing when it shouldn't but this weekend the Lions simply can't afford to drop the four