VENUE & TIME: Gabba, 7.40pm Friday 28 March
HEAD TO HEAD: Wins: Brisbane 16, Collingwood 17
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 22.17 (149) def. Collingwood 7.14 (56) Round 17, 2007 at the MCG
WALKING WOUNDED: The Lions' injury list is extensive: Jed Adcock (shin/test), Robert Copeland (ankle/test), Ashley McGrath (knee/test), Tom Collier (hamstring/1 week), Matthew Tyler (back/1 week), Pat Garner (knee/1 week), Jason Roe (quad/2 weeks), Mitch Clark (quad/2 weeks), Chris Schmidt (quad/2 weeks), Matthew Moody (groin/indefinite), Sam Sheldon (groin/indefinite). Forward Shaun Rusling, who will be sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder injury sustained against Fremantle last Saturday, is the latest addition to Collingwood's official injury list. The others are - Jaxson Barham (shoulder/4 weeks), Brad Dick (knee/season) and Simon Prestigiacomo (foot/indefinite).
FORM: The Lions travelled to Subiaco first-up last Saturday and fell 16 points short against the West Coast Eagles. After an indifferent pre-season, the Magpies overran Fremantle at the MCG for an encouraging 26-point win.
WHO'S HOT: Jonathan Brown was outstanding up forward for the Lions against West Coast slotting six goals straight against just about the best full-back in the game in Eagles skipper Darren Glass. Simon Black led the way in the midfield for Brisbane with 30 disposals. Veteran forward Anthony Rocca matched Brown's effort with six of his own against the Dockers to be best-afield, while the Shaw brothers were busy and productive at half-back and on the wing.
WE THINK: Mick Malthouse paid tribute to his youngsters after the win over Freo including first-gamer Nathan Brown who was given the job on Matthew Pavlich, then nominated Brown as a candidate for the job this week on his namesake Jonathan. Whoever's given the assignment - Nick Maxwell, Shane Wakelin, Tyson Goldsack or Brown - faces a huge task. At the other end of the field, Daniel Merrett looks a good match up for Rocca. The rucks, with former Lion Cameron Wood coming up against his old team for the first time, look evenly-matched, as do the midfields. Collingwood snapped an eight-game losing streak at the Gabba with a 33-point victory in Round 9 last season and will feel quietly confident of getting the job done again, though the Lions managed to prevail by a record 93 points in the return match at the MCG in Round 17. Collingwood by 15 points.