JUSTIN Leppitsch says there are six positions up for grabs before the Brisbane Lions' round one premiership match against Hawthorn on March 22.
The Lions named an inexperienced line-up to take on the Hawks in their NAB Challenge opener at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, and Leppitsch says it will help guide him for the season proper.
Jonathan Brown (foot) is unavailable, while captain Jed Adcock and first-choice players Daniel Rich, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull, Pearce Hanley, Jack Redden and Matthew Leuenberger will all be held back another week.
A stack of Lions will don the club's guernsey for the first time, including draftees James Aish, Tom Cutler, Daniel McStay and Nick Robertson, along with Geelong recruit Trent West.
Despite it being his first match in charge as coach – and against last season's premier – Leppitsch says winning is not the priority on Thursday night.
"I think you're always trying to prepare for round one," Leppitsch said before a light training run at Coorparoo.
"We always like to win, but it's probably not everything on Thursday night. It is definitely something we want to do, but we have to get the little wins, which is getting enough game time into our players before round one, it's building their confidence in the game plan.
"There is a scoreboard there, yes we'd like to win … but by round three or four it's not going to matter if you won the first pre-season game or not."
One contentious spot this season will be the third tall forward, with Brown sure to take one spot when he returns from injury and West to take another as Leppitsch is keen to play two ruckmen.
Brent Staker, Luke McGuane, Jackson Paine and teenagers Michael Close, Marco Paparone and Jono Freeman will all vie for playing time.
But the rookie coach says there's plenty more positions yet to be won.
"I would have thought there was six positions that I'm still unsure of," Leppitsch said.
"Whether it'll be a revolving door through the year or whether someone's going to stand up and grab those positions, that'll be up to the players I guess."
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