A WIN over arch rival Gold Coast means just that little bit more for the Brisbane Lions, says young defender Harris Andrews.
The Lions have won just once this year – against the Suns in Round 4 – and Andrews is confident they can double up when the teams square off at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
While the first 10 encounters between the clubs were relatively calm in terms of local rivalries, it exploded earlier in the season when Lions ruckman Stefan Martin was KO'd by Gold Coast vice-captain Steven May.
Andrews talked it down as merely a "big incident" but said the Lions took a little extra pleasure in defeating their south-east Queensland neighbours.
"I think the derby has built over the last few years," Andrews said.
"We do go out every week and give it our all, but it is good to try and get a win over the blokes down the road.
"They're still fairly new in the competition and it's a good competition against them."
Andrews said he was impressed by the Suns' win over St Kilda on Saturday, but said the Lions were refreshed after their bye.
"It's going to be a physical game on Saturday," he said.
"It's going to be physical early and it's going to be the team that settles in first that gets the chocolates."
Despite being in just his second season, 19-year-old Andrews could be pivotal if the Lions are to spring a second upset this year.
He will either have to defend All Australian contender Tom Lynch or this week's NAB Rising Star nominee Peter Wright.
Both took double-figure marks against the Saints and will be a handful for a Lions defence that concedes 126 points a game.
"We're going to have to hunt them hard and try and keep it in our forward half as much as we can," Andrews said.
"We've looked at our defensive setups over the break. We've made some changes.
"A win would be massive. We haven't won a game in a little while. I'm looking forward to it."
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