Brisbane Lions get double boost with key returns but defender remains sidelined

Brisbane is set to welcome back co-captains Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage for Saturday’s Gather Round clash against North Melbourne, but Lions defender Noah Answerth will miss another game with concussion.

Star pair Andrews and McCluggage haven’t played since Brisbane’s Opening Round loss to the Western Bulldogs due to suspension and a calf injury respectively.

Answerth missed the Lions’ win last Thursday over Collingwood after copping an accidental blow to the head in Brisbane’s victory over St Kilda last month.

“Noah hasn’t really trained fully yet, so I’m not expecting that he’s going to be OK,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said on Thursday.

“It was a big hit that he took in that game, so we’ll be very cautious with him. The welfare of the player comes first.”

Fagan also said no risks would be taken with McCluggage if there was a hint of doubt about the All-Australian’s calf.

However, the Lions mentor was confident the 28-year-old midfielder would play at Barossa Park on Saturday.

“We’ve got to get through training, so there’s always that proviso, but he trained fully on Tuesday, so the expectation is that he will play,” said Fagan, who added that McCluggage and Andrews would hopefully have an “influence” this weekend.

“It means a lot from a team perspective, because they’re great communicators out on the field, and great organisers.

“That’ll help with that side of the game, which is always really important, and they just know what to do in any given circumstance.

“You just feel a little bit better with them out there.”

The back-to-back premiers won’t take the “improving” Kangaroos lightly, particularly after Brisbane was held to a draw by North Melbourne in Hobart last year.

“We had a good lesson ... we should have lost that game,” Fagan said.

“They played far better than us. I have a lot of respect for them, and what they’re doing. You can see they’re improving as a footy club.”

Under the guidance Fagan’s close friend Alastair Clarkson, the Kangaroos are sitting above Brisbane on the ladder with three wins from four games this season.

“They’re a tough, hard unit. They make you earn every kick, and I don’t expect that to be any different this weekend.,” Fagan said.

“Their confidence is up, so we’re going to have to play well.”

The Lions are chasing a third successive win, having recovered from losing their opening two games of the season.

“It doesn’t matter how good a team you are, and what you’ve achieved in the past, you doubt yourself a little bit until you get that first win on the board, and you wonder if you’ve still got it or not,” Fagan said.

“You just can’t ever assume, You start again every time you play. It’s back to zero.”