Leuenberger is enjoying a stellar season for the Lions, averaging 16 disposals per match and second in the competition for hit-outs (644) behind North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein (679).
Last week the 23-year-old took arguably his biggest scalp of the season in Collingwood's Darren Jolly.
He had a career-high 24 touches, seven marks and 33 hit-outs against Jolly's seven, four and 25 respectively.
But at the Gabba on Saturday night comes his ultimate test, playing against a rampant Cox, who is in line for his fifth All Australian selection after another bumper season, and his spring-heeled sidekick Naitanui.
Leuenberger was taken by the Lions at No.4 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft and came from the same club as Cox, East Perth.
In his first three seasons in Brisbane he suffered injuries to both knees and a staph infection that stripped 11kg from his body that severely restricted his time on the field.
But in the past two seasons - in which he has played 42 successive matches - the 204cm, 102kg giant has blossomed.
He said playing against Cox would be the sternest of challenges.
"I rate him real highly. I think he's almost the complete package as a ruckman," Leuenberger said.
"He's very damaging around the ground and also extremely effective in the ruck contest itself. He's elite at both areas, which makes a great ruckman.
"His offensive game is something I would love to get to one day. I watch a lot of footage and feel like I understand his running patterns and stuff like that."
Leuenberger said he would study vision of both Cox and Naitanui prior to playing the Eagles to see if he could learn anything from opponents who had got their number in the past.
Along with fellow Western Australian Daniel Rich, Leuenberger recently pledged his allegiance to the Lions by signing a two-year extension to his contract.
Rich said it was exciting watching Leuenberger's progression.
"I've always known that he's a star and he will be a star," Rich said.
"It's pretty exciting that he's signed as well and that he's going to be here for years to come and he's on the same page as all us young guys building to the future, and to see him playing so well now is great for the Lions."
Leuenberger agreed, saying it was exciting to continue developing an understanding with his midfielders.
"The blokes around me, apart from Simon Black, we haven't played much footy together at all," he said.
"(Daniel) Rich, (Jack) Redden, (Tom) Rockliff and (Ryan) Harwood when he plays, (James) Polkinghorne, those sort of guys, apart from this year I've never really played to much with them inside.
"I think we've got better as the year's gone on and I think the key to us getting better is having time out there working together and figuring challenges out together as a group. I can certainly notice the improvement as the year's gone on.
"We've experienced a fair few downs this year and to think one day we'll be a lot better for it, and when we start working our way up the ladder, it is pretty exciting."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
