VENUE & TIME: MCG, Sunday 29 June, 1:10pm AEST.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 31, Melbourne 17, Brisbane 14.
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 19.23 (137) def. Melbourne 13.7 (85), Round 6, 2008 at the Gabba.

WALKING WOUNDED: The Demons are in reasonable shape apart from long-term absentees Jared Rivers, Brent Moloney and Russell Robertson with Nathan Carroll set to resume following suspension this week while fellow defender Daniel Bell could return from hamstring soreness. The Lions could regain leading goalkicker Daniel Bradshaw, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, while Travis Johnstone (hamstring) and Justin Sherman (back) could also return.

FORM: The Lions bounced back superbly from their hammering from the Western Bulldogs last week to beat highly-rated Adelaide at the Gabba. That took the Lions to eight wins from 13 games this season and just behind the Crows on percentage in sixth place while they have now won five of their past six matches. But for Melbourne the end of the season just cannot come quickly enough. The Demons are facing their first wooden spoon since 1997 with just one win from 13 matches but they at least have been competitive during their past three defeats against Collingwood, Richmond and Sydney respectively.

WHO'S HOT: Brisbane utility Jared Brennan has long been considered one of the AFL's great unfulfilled talents but there are growing signs he is about to live up to the promise he has shown ever since his sensational debut against Collingwood in 2003. Now into his sixth season the athletic Brennan has now played 72 games but it's doubtful he has played a better one than last week against Adelaide when he had 31 possessions and took 12 marks in the Lions' 13-point win. Brennan has now played all 13 games this season and is averaging 17 disposals and six marks per game. For Melbourne, forward Matthew Bate has put his injury-plagued start to the season behind him and has kicked five goals in the past two weeks to give the Demons a much-needed boost in attack.

WE THINK: After knocking over Adelaide last week to move to within striking distance of the top four, it's hard to see the Lions dropping this game against the league's bottom club. The Demons have improved in recent weeks but they simply don't have the class or depth to keep up with the top sides for four quarters. So while Melbourne will be competitive early, expect the Lions to get on top as the game progresses and eventually run out easy winners. Brisbane Lions by 30 points.