With Brown taking the field for the first time since suffering facial fractures against Fremantle in round one, there is an increased expectation that the Lions can crack their season duck.
But Voss said while it was great to have his skipper back, they could not expect him to do it all on his own.
"We've got to be realistic in the impact he has," Voss said.
"We know he'll take his one or two grabs and if he doesn't he'll take a good player and he also has presence so hopefully what it does is it will provide that contest and help others to play well also.
"The cream on top would be all those things (marks and goals), but that's not what our expectations are and he shouldn't expect that of himself at the same time."
Brown is a noted performer in his first match back from a layoff. In 2005 he kicked eight goals and dragged in 14 marks after missing the first five rounds of the season.
Even in round one this season, Brown had virtually no pre-season and had three goals inside three quarters before his collision with Luke McPharlin.
Voss said Brown's fitness would not be an issue, although he was likely to play him close to the goalsquare to preserve his legs.
"He's been training with some of our coaches really closely and we can only lean on our physical co-ordinator and get some feedback on how he's going. The feedback from Birdman (physical performance manager Brett Burton) is he's in pretty good shape," Voss said.
"It's good to have the skipper back. You always want your better players out on the deck. It helps your cause there's no doubt about that. We don't want to be reliant on our stars to help get results, but the fact is that's why they're good players."
Voss said North Melbourne, coached by his former premiership teammate Brad Scott, would be a difficult assignment.
"Their current form stacks up OK. They might have had their ups and downs but they've had their couple of wins. They would come up here with some confidence, they seem to travel OK as a group."
Brown's return was slightly soured by injuries to Josh Drummond (torn meniscus, four to six weeks out) and Ashley McGrath (hamstring).
However it does pave the way for the Lions' seventh debutant this season in Josh Green, who was taken at No.32 in last year's draft.
"He brings his red hair," Voss joked. "A bit of pace, clean hands inside, a clearance player and we've got to add that mix into our group now... He's earned his stripes."
