HE WON his first match as a senior coach, but Justin Leppitsch was realistic enough to know Sunday's NAB Challenge win over Gold Coast was nothing to get too excited about.

As he put it, it's just the "tick off" he wanted.

The Lions won by 47 points in difficult conditions at Townsville's Tony Ireland Stadium, but Leppitsch was most pleased to get some continuity going.

Just last week his severely undermanned team was pummelled by 131 points against reigning premier Hawthorn.

With 10 senior members returning against the Suns, it was the Lions' turn to dish out a heavy defeat.

Mind you, Gold Coast was missing five of its six best midfielders – Gary Ablett, Jaeger O'Meara, Michael Rischitelli, David Swallow (all rested) and Dion Prestia (calf).

Leppitsch didn't care, saying it was all about dusting off some cobwebs.

"It's the first time we've got together and could put together the stuff we wanted to," Leppitsch said.

"Gold Coast didn't have their ace mids out there this particular week. They've got their own plan and we've got ours, but I'm more worried about what we can control.

"Obviously the opposition will increase with every week and the intensity will increase with every week.

"Just to be able to complete some of the things we've done at training in the game, it's probably that initial tick-off you want."

The Lions will play the Sydney Swans in their final trial match at Burpengary, in Brisbane's north, on March 8.

"(Our) ball movement (was) pretty good, our defensive stuff was good, to pressure up the opposition and get in their face, which is what we've been working on, we did that pretty well," Leppitsch said.

"Psychologically, winning is very good."

Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting