While this 16th edition of the QClash is yet another battle with both clubs in the bottom four, the winner will likely take away bragging rights as Queensland's highest placed team for 2018.

Brisbane has rightly received plaudits for its improvement this year, pushing a number of top-eight teams to the brink without nabbing many victories, but the bottom line is it has just four wins – the same as the Suns.

Gold Coast won the meeting earlier this season by five points, but since then have won just once from 15 games.

With Pearce Hanley adding to the injury toll last week, the Suns have close to half their best team sidelined and are limping to the end of the year.

With Dayne Beams and Harris Andrews in All Australian form, the Lions are fresh off a five-goal loss to Collingwood, but have generally been in good form the past two months with a largely settled lineup.

If Brisbane wants to rubber-stamp its improvement, it must beat Gold Coast, and should do so comfortably.

Where and When
Metricon Stadium, Saturday, August 18, 7.25pm AEST

Last Five Meetings
R5, 2018, Gold Coast 11.10 (76) d Brisbane Lions 10.11 (71) at the Gabba
R21, 2017, Brisbane Lions 22.10 (142) d Gold Coast 12.12 (84) at the Gabba
R1, 2017, Brisbane Lions 15.8 (98) d Gold Coast 14.12 (96) at Metricon Stadium
R16, 2016, Gold Coast 22.7 (139) d Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113) at Metricon Stadium
R4, 2016, Brisbane Lions 14.23 (107) d Gold Coast 14.10 (94) at the Gabba

The Six Points

1. The Suns led by 15 points at three-quarter time earlier this season before the Lions kicked 3.2 to 1.4 in the final quarter to fall just short by five points.

2.The Suns are the worst fourth-quarter team this season, winning just three times, and they are minus 265 points overall. The Lions are quite strong, having won 12 final quarters and are plus 60 points in total.

3. Brisbane leads the head-to-head match-up with nine wins to six, with an even three-three split at Metricon Stadium

4. Stef Martin will play his 100th Club game this weekend, totalling his number of career games at 157.

5. This is Gold Coast's last chance to avoid a winless season at Metricon Stadium. Their only previous season without a single victory at the venue was in 2011, their first in the competition.

6. Darcy Gardiner will be a big out for the Lions' backline, expected to miss the weekend's clash following a shoulder dislocation in Round 21.

IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR … Dayne Zorko

Last time the two sides met, Dayne Zorko was kept to only 10 touches and a goal due to difficult tagging from Gold Coast's Touk Miller. 

Miller was in strong form, taking home the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for his best on ground performance.

Since overcoming taggers early on in 2018, the Lions skipper will be desperate to reverse the tables.