After securing their first win over Sydney since the 2013 NEAFL Grand Final last week, the Lions NEAFL side travel to Darwin where they will face the NT Thunder.

Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry come out of the side this week, after being rewarded for some early season form with their senior debuts against St Kilda on Sunday. Josh Schache also returns to the Seniors after proving his form and fitness in the NEAFL last round.

The Lions NEAFL side will field a full-strength side against the Thunder, bolstered by the likes of Ryan Bastinac, Ben Keays, Michael Close and Ryan Harwood.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have handed young gun Davin Ferreira his NEAFL debut while also bringing utility Daniel Russell and speedster Justin Cooper into the side for their first games of the season.

WHERE AND WHEN

6:30pm, Saturday, April 8

TIO Stadium, Darwin

This match will be streamed live on ThunderVision (youtube.com/territorythunder).

AFL-LISTED PLAYERS ASSEMBLE

The Lions will field one of their strongest NEAFL sides in recent history this week, with a near full-strength side of 20 AFL-listed players pulling on the boots this week. After an impressive display last week against the Swans, NEAFL coach Mitch Hahn will be looking for his team to back it up again on Saturday, especially with the influx of experience coming down from the senior side this week.

BATTLE OF THE SMITHS

With a best-on-ground performance last week, Lions ruckman Archie Smith now finds himself locked in a four-way tie for first place on the NEAFL MVP leaderboard with nine votes. Surprisingly, his opposing ruckman this week, NT Thunder’s Ryan Smith, is one of those four. This shapes as a tantalising match-up to watch on Saturday, with both big men successfully giving their team first use of the footy last round. The telling stat will be the hitouts, with the winner likely to have a big say in how the rest of the match will unfold.

IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR…

Jono Freeman. With his partner in crime from last week Josh Schache getting the call-up to the seniors, a lot of the sharpshooting will rest on Freeman’s shoulders this week. Between them, the two tall forwards kicked seven goals against the Swans, with Freeman chipping in three of those. This week, Freeman will be supported by Michael Close up forward, but will still need to hit the scoreboard regularly to take the pressure off Close and give the Lions the best chance of continuing their unbeaten start to the season.

FORM

Brisbane Lions (3rd): W (def. Sydney by 26 points)
NT Thunder (1st): W (def. Aspley by 57 points)

LAST TIME THEY MET

Round 13, 2016: NT Thunder 20.15 (135) d Brisbane Lions 7.5 (47) at TIO Stadium.
Round 19, 2015: NT Thunder 18.15 (123) d Brisbane 12.14 (86) at the Gabba.
Round 13, 2015: NT Thunder 18.9 (117) d Brisbane 10.9 (69) at TIO Stadium.

TEAM

In: Ben Keays, Ryan Harwood, Michael Close

Out: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Josh Schache, Reuben William