Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says he won’t have an accurate gauge on his side’s progress until round five of the AFL season despite their NAB Cup success.

Voss said his improving squad had savoured claiming the pre-season trophy but realised it meant nothing when the season proper starts against Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

“The NAB Cup has no correlation with the season and it would be dangerous to think otherwise,” he said.

“Round one is different. If we don’t respect that, we are going to get burnt.”

Voss said the first month of football would show just how far his side had come since 2012 when they surprised many by claiming 10 wins.

“We understand the importance of the first month of the season,” he said.

“The last couple of years, we haven’t got away with a good start and, as a result, we have been chasing the pack for the rest of the year.

“Players need that encouragement through results. We have come into the season in a healthy state but it guarantees us nothing.”

Voss said ruckman Matthew Leuenberger (Achilles) was a “50-50” chance of playing this weekend while Brownlow Medallist Simon Black (knee) might miss up to the first four rounds, as expected.