Provided Brisbane keep improving and his body behaves, AFL star Jonathan Brown will continue playing.
The 31-year-old co-captain will line-up in his first game for the year on Saturday night when the Lions take on Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
Brisbane and Collingwood are unbeaten in the NAB Cup and the winner will almost certainly claim a berth in next week’s final.
The Lions’ strong pre-season form follows last year’s encouraging improvement, when they managed 10 wins.
Brown and midfielder Simon Black are the only players left from all of Brisbane’s “three-peat” premierships of 2001-03.
The tough centre half-forward said on Friday the lure of more team success keeps him motivated.
“At this stage of your career, you’re really only focussing on team success,” he said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to taste what team success feels like and you’d love to at least get that feeling again.
“The side is on an upward curve, which gives hope to a few of us veterans.”
Now he has turned 30, Brown is taking his career year-by-year.
“I’m really excited by where the group is going and as long the group keeps improving and I can keep contributing, I will be enjoying my footy, which is the main thing,” he said.
The late start to Brown’s pre-season gave his body a chance to fully recover.
“I feel freshened up and rejuvenated – how long that lasts into a season, I’m not sure,” he said.
“The way they’ve managed me through this pre-season has put me in really good shape.
“It’s important to at least start the season not banged up.”
The Lions have recalled Daniel Rich, Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull for Saturday’s match, putting them close to full strength.
It is also an Etihad Stadium dress rehearsal for the Lions, who play the Western Bulldogs in round one at the same ground.
Black remains an unlikely starter for round one, but Brown said he started running this week and it was important he returned when ready.