Lions keep their eyes on the prize, no matter how far away it might seem
The Brisbane Lions are eyeing a top-two finish to set themselves up for an AFL flag push, but are determined not to lose their short-term focus along the way.
Chris Faganās men have surged to the top of premiership betting markets and will start favourites against fellow contenders GWS at the Gabba on Saturday.
But the clash serves as a timely reminder to the Lions that they canāt take their eyes off the ball.
It was the same opponents who delivered the Lions a season-worst 54-point thrashing on Anzac Day that left them reeling at 2-5 on the back of last yearās agonising grand-final defeat to Collingwood.
The turnaround since then has been remarkable, with Brisbane losing just one of their past 13 games and rattling off nine consecutive wins.
āWeāre feeling pretty confident,ā Lions defender Brandon Starcevich told AAP.
āWhen that streak started we were sort of hanging in the balance and we just kept that mentality going that weāve got nothing to lose.
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āWeāve just got to keep that rolling, but thereās been no easy games the whole year and the Giants are going really well.
āThat āOrange Tsunamiā as they like to call it ā where they just start flicking the ball and moving it quickly from one end to the other ā thatās what weāve got to stop.ā
The Lions could match the second-longest winning streak in club history ā accounting for Brisbane Bears, Fitzroy and post-merger records ā with victory over GWS.
It would also be another step towards a top-two finish, possibly a minor premiership, and the chance to enjoy home-ground advantage in their first two finals.
āHome finals makes the world of difference, so if we can lock that in it sets us up really well,ā Starcevich said.
āBut itās one week at a time at the moment.
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āThat belief and playing with nothing to lose is that same mentality that weāll roll with for the rest of the year.ā
Starcevich was central to Brisbaneās physical approach in last weekās 85-point thrashing of St Kilda, blunting dangerous goal-sneak Jack Higgins.
The 25-year-old now has his eye on another battle with GWS captain and match-winner Toby Greene.
āItās a good match-up and heās one of the best in the comp so you always look forward to it,ā Starcevich said.
āYou just canāt switch off against Toby.
āOne minute heās leading up and the footy and if he doesnāt get used heās popping out the back with space and time to make you pay.
āAnd he can kick them from just about anywhere, so youāve got to be switched on for four quarters.ā
Brisbane have made just one change to their side, naming Irish defender Darragh Joyce as a replacement for the injured Bruce Reville (fibula stress reaction).
Giants vice-captain Josh Kelly is back after five weeks out with a calf injury, while veteran Lachlan Keefe will play his first game of the season.
Keefe replaces ruckman Kieren Briggs, who has been managed.
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