JUSTIN Leppitsch doesn't sense any residual hatred from his players, but hasn't ruled out another spiteful clash against Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Brisbane Lions upset the Suns by 13 points when the teams met in Round 4, but the game will best be remembered for Steven May's high hit on Stefan Martin that resulted in a five-match suspension.
Tempers flared in the aftermath of the hit, but the Lions regained their composure during the second half to record their only victory of the season.
When asked about the simmering rivalry on Friday morning, Lions coach Leppitsch said he wasn't totally sure how his players felt about the Suns.
"I guess we'll find out won't we, whether the incident last time will linger on to this time," Leppitsch said.
"We'll wait and see.
"I don't sense that from the playing group, but you know what it's like when they're out on the footy ground, footballers, anything can happen."
The Lions have a two-from-five QClash record under Leppitsch, with both wins at the Gabba – 2014 and this year – big upsets.
"It's always a spiteful game when we play Gold Coast, we know that, being the local rivalry, but more than anything the winning is the most important thing for us," he said.
"We might get ourselves up a bit more for this particular game, I don't know.
"We've been in similar parts of the ladder the last couple of years, both teams, it's just whoever gets up on that day."
Fresh from the bye, the Lions have welcomed back vice-captain Dayne Zorko, who missed playing Richmond for personal reasons, and will unveil debutant Reuben William.
Leppitsch said he was excited by William's flair and attack on the football.
Above all else though, the Lions coach wants – and needs – a win.
"I'd like to think every game we go out and try to be aggressive, not just at QClash," he said.
"I'd hate to think we only bring it in this particular game.
"We've proven we can do it for quarters, halves, three quarters, it's about longevity for us as a group."
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