Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is preparing for Collingwood's absolute best despite the Magpies missing three superstars for their blockbuster bout at Marvel Stadium.
Collingwood will enter Friday night's top-of-the-table showdown without Darcy Moore and Jordan De Goey, with the pair joining Nick Daicos on the sidelines.
Small forward Bobby Hill will also miss against the Lions after pulling up sore with hamstring concerns during training on Wednesday.
Collingwood are assured of a top-two finish and only need to win one of their remaining two matches to take out the minor premiership.
But Fagan is not buying into talk the Magpies might be complacent or vulnerable without some key players.
The Lions can almost lock in a top-two spot, and a crucial first-week final at the Gabba, if they defeat Collingwood for a sixth-straight time dating back to 2020.
"They've got quite a few out, but what I find at this time of year is you've got hungry guys in the reserves that want an opportunity, so they generally come in and play their roles really well," Fagan said on Thursday morning.
"Our expectation is we're going to play a Collingwood team that's going to bring out their very best effort and we're going to have to play really well to beat them.
"I've seen that with our team at times. We've got some good players out and bring some guys in from the twos that have been breaking their necks to get an opportunity for a few weeks and they don’t let you down.
"Whatever Collingwood players run out on the ground we know they're going to be going flat out."
The Lions will be without veteran forward Jack Gunston until at least finals after he hurt his knee in last week's win over Adelaide.
Brisbane are already missing young midfielder Will Ashcroft, who has proved a big loss since he went down to a season-ending knee injury a month ago against Geelong.
But the Lions will regain important defender Keidean Coleman, who has missed the last two matches after suffering an eye injury in the derby defeat to Gold Coast.
Brisbane are one of only four teams to defeat Collingwood this season, comfortably handling the Magpies when they met at the Gabba in round four.
The injured Daicos starred for Collingwood in a 33-point loss, gathering 38 disposals and kicking two goals.
