Jonathan Brown, Simon Black, Nigel Lappin, Luke Power and Chris Johnson will share the captaincy duties for the first time since being announced as co-captains last week.
Lappin will make his first AFL appearance since breaking his ankle against the Sydney Swans in round 20, 2005.
Irish recruit Colm Begley has been selected on the interchange bench only two days after being elevated from the club’s rookie list. Begley will play his third senior AFL match after making his debut against the Eagles in round 20 last season.
Joel Patfull (knee) and Tim Notting (shoulder) have been passed fit to play this weekend. Notting, who dislocated his shoulder in the NAB Cup Grand Final against Carlton only two weeks ago, has been selected to play his 40th consecutive AFL match.
Patfull, Lappin and Jamie Charman are the Lions’ only inclusions to the team that lost to Carlton in the 2007 NAB Cup Grand Final.
The Lions’ fifth pick in the 2006 National Draft (No.54 overall) Matthew Tyler has been named as an emergency alongside ruckman Beau McDonald and midfielder Marcus Allan.
Retired premiership ruckman Clark Keating will be perform a lap of honour prior to the match against Hawthorn for his crowds of Gabba fans. Keating played 139 matches and kicked 83 goals with the Lions since his debut in 1996.
Jonathan Brown was unstoppable in kicking eight goals in his last meeting with the Hawks in round 6 last year, setting a new club record for the most goals kicked against Hawthorn by an individual player.
HEAD TO HEADThe Brisbane Lions have won 11 of their 17 matches with Hawthorn for a winning percentage of 64%.
The Lions have won nine of their past 10 matches against Hawthorn, having lost just once to the Hawks since the start of the 2001 season.
The Hawks have not won at the Gabba since round 18 in 2000 when they prevailed by 18 points.
LAST THREE YEARS
2004: Round 5 W 14.26 (110) 9.8 (62) Gabba (N) +48
2004: Round 20 W 8.18 (66) 6.7 (43) MCG +23
2005: Round 4 L 10.9 (69) 18.7 (115) MCG - 46
2005: Round 19 W 18.13 (121) 11.14 (80) Gabba +41
2006: Round 7 W 16.10 (106) 9.12 (66) Carrara (N) +40
2006: Round 16 W 11.18 (84) 11.8 (74) Gabba (N) +10
LIONS TEAM SELECTION
B: Chris Johnson (2), Daniel Merrett (21), Jason Roe (29)
HB: Jed Adcock (7), Jared Brennan (17), Robert Copeland (30)
C: Justin Sherman (11), Nigel Lappin (44), Cheynee Stiller (32)
HF: Matthew Moody (10), Jonathan Brown (16), Tim Notting (8)
F: Michael Rischitelli (35), Jamie Charman (19), Ashley McGrath (9)
R: Cameron Wood (31), Simon Black (20), Luke Power (6)
I/C: Ben Fixter (4), Joel Patfull (24), Colm Begley (46), Scott Harding (5)
Emerg: Beau McDonald (43), Matthew Tyler (15), Marcus Allan (42)
