Ash McGrath is expected to make his long-awaited return when the Brisbane Lions Reserves meet Redland at Corrparoo this Saturday at 1:30pm.

McGrath is yet to play a senior match in 2014, and will be eased back into action through the NEAFL.

His inclusion will prove a handy boost for the Lions Reserves, who are hoping to keep their NEAFL Finals hopes alive against the in-form Bombers.

“We’re hoping that Ash come back. It would be wonderful for guys like Izzy Conway to play alongside someone of his experience up forward,” Development Coach Matthew Francis told lions.com.au.

“Having another experienced campaigner alongside guys like Polks and Rainsey will help provide extra direction and instruction to our young players.

“It will be a huge positive to have him back.”

Redland boast the best record of any Queensland-based NEAFL side, having lost just one of their seven matches so far this season, and boast a number of former AFL-listed players including Cleve Hughes (Richmond), Darren Pfeiffer (Carlton/Port Adelaide), Daniel Dzufer (Lions), and Stephen Wrigley (Lions).

The Lions, meanwhile, remain in ninth despite claiming their third win of the season last Saturday against the Gold Coast.

The last time the two sides met in Round Three earlier this season, the Bombers prevailed by 107 points at Casheezi Park.

Francis, who is a former Head Coach at Redland, hopes the Lions can show just how far they’ve come in the past couple of months.

“We go into the game with a bit more belief in our ability to put what we’re putting together in place,” he said.

“It should be a really good indicator on how we’re progressing.

“We know that they’re a good strong team with a lot of experience and they’ll be hard to beat.”