Where and when: Gabba, Saturday, April 17, 7.10pm
Head to head: Brisbane Lions 16 wins, Western Bulldogs 24 wins
Last time: Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107) d Brisbane Lions 8.8 (56), second semi-final, 2009, at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Brisbane Lions
Jed Adcock (quad) - 2-4 weeks
Callum Bartlett (knee) - available
Simon Black (calf) - test
Amon Buchanan (thumb) - 4 weeks
Jamie Charman (ankle) - 4 weeks
Mitch Clark (suspension) - 1 week
Xavier Clarke (knee) - indefinite
Mitch Golby (knee) - 2 weeks
Ryan Harwood (ankle) - TBC
Bart McCulloch (quad) - 3 weeks
Ash McGrath (suspension) - 1 week
Bryce Retzlaff (shin) - test
Sam Sheldon (back) - 2-4 weeks
Western Bulldogs
Jason Akermanis (hamstring) - 2 weeks
Ayce Cordy (shoulder) - 2-4 weeks
Ryan Hargrave (neck) - available
Christian Howard (hip) - 5 weeks
James Mulligan (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Liam Picken (ankle) - 6-8 weeks
Sam Reid (groin) - 2 weeks
Shane Thorne (knee) - 12 weeks
Stephen Tiller (groin) - available
Callan Ward - (groin) - 6 weeks
FORM
Brisbane Lions: WWW
Western Bulldogs: LWW
SUMMARY
The Lions are one of three teams to remain undefeated heading into round four. Their scalps so far include West Coast, Carlton and, most recently, Port Adelaide, where their twin towers Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola combined for eight goals and seven score assists.
The match at AAMI Stadium was costly, with Simon Black sitting out the second half with a calf that might sideline him further and Mitch Clark and Ash McGrath both copping one week suspensions.
The Dogs' win over Hawthorn on Sunday was a gutsy effort but came with its own additional woes. They lost tagger Liam Picken, Jason Akermanis and possibly Ryan Hargrave. Hargrave will be tested but the other two will leave big holes in the line-up.
Their form so far has been patchy with coach Rodney Eade lamenting their inability to jell in the first three rounds.
PLAYER TO WATCH
With Clark going out of the side, the responsibility of Matthew Leuenberger will increase. The Lions will regain the suspended Jared Brennan, who proved his ability to play as a back-up ruckman last year. Leuenberger is yet to set the world on fire since returning from injury and will be in the spotlight this week.
Eade applied the acid to Will Minson on Sunday after the burly ruckman played yet another game marred by silly decisions. He threatened him with VFL time but with the Lions' ruck stocks depleted by Charman and Clark's absence, he might leave him in for a possible confidence-building opportunity.
QUESTION MARKS
The Lions are somewhat haunted by their semi-final thrashing last year and are looking to atone. Will it increase their ferocity and give the Bulldogs their second bruising contest?
Will the Dogs' positive Gabba record - four wins from their past five visits - have any effect?
How important will a fit and present Ryan Hargrave be for the Dogs given the form of the Brown-Fevola combination?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Lions didn't struggle against the Power and were fresh in the legs after a nine-day break. The Dogs were bumped, bashed and bruised by the Hawks and will have a few sore boys to take on the trip north.
Follow Scott Beveridge's inside view of Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs at #afllionsdogs on Twitter.com from 7.10pm Saturday night or @AFL_ScottBeveridge#afllionsdogs.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
