Brisbane veteran Simon Black appears set for a return against Hawthorn on Sunday as the Lions look to build momentum from their AFL upset over high-flying West Coast.
Black ran freely with the main group at the start of a closed training session at the Gabba and looks to have overcome the knee injury which forced him out of the Eagles boilover a fortnight ago.
Fellow midfielder Tom Rockliff was supremely confident Black would play against the Hawks at the MCG in a further boost for the Lions.
“He’s trained really well this week and he just has to come through a few runs today and I think he’ll do that,” the vice-captain said.
Rockliff said Brisbane’s effort to produce their thrilling win over West Coast without the 2002 Brownlow Medallist was huge for the club’s young midfield brigade going into a tough challenge against the Hawks.
“It would have been great to have him out there but it was good that other blokes stood up and Ryan Lester went through the midfield and played a really good role in the game,” he said.
“It gave us confidence (as) we haven’t beaten a top-eight team in two years.
“It’s fantastic for the boys to get that win and build a better environment.”
Last year’s club champion, Rockliff stressed the best way Brisbane could nullify a red-hot Lance Franklin was by winning the midfield battle over the Sam Mitchell-led Hawks.
“It’s about limiting their opportunities inside 50,” he said.
“We saw a fortnight ago that we kicked nine goals in the last quarter so it’s about giving our forwards opportunity.”
Former Western Bulldogs ruckman Ben Hudson is set to play his 150th match in the clash.