The Brisbane Lions will be motivated in their AFL home opener against North Melbourne by the sudden retirement of Justin Clarke, says Dayne Zorko.

Clarke has been forced out of the game at just 22 due to concussion symptoms and Zorko says the Lions will be playing for him on Saturday at the Gabba.

Zorko will make his first appearance for the season, having missed last week’s loss to West Coast due to a suspension for striking GWS’s Phil Davis during the NAB Challenge.