Veteran Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black is close to returning. Picture: Peter Wallis. Source: The Courier-Mail
BRISBANE Lions is set to be boosted by the probable return of champion Simon Black this week.
Black completed a full reserves game at the weekend after missing the first six matches with a knee injury.
Jack Redden picked up the burden with 23 possessions and seven tackles in a badly beaten midfield missing the injured Daniel Rich and Claye Beams, and is a likely benefactor from Black's return.
"A quality player like Blacky will be a massive lift for us boys. We all know what he is capable of and all the boys will get a lift out of it," Redden said.
An inability to win the contested ball is Brisbane's biggest concern heading into the weekend after being smashed in that area against Sydney.
"At the start we struggled to get our hands on the ball... but we started matching them in contested ball and I think we turned the game around after that," he said.
Despite their rocky start, the Lions have every reason to be confident against a patchy West Coast side that have just two wins to their name and only one Gabba victory since 2008.
"They're starting to find some form again and it is going to be a tough game but hopefully we match up pretty well against them and get the four points," he said.
Patrick Karnezis, Jordan Lisle and Sam Docherty are in line for recalls against the Eagles after strong reserves matches last Sunday.
Redden put a smile on faces at the Mater Children's Hospital today.
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