FOR THE first time this season, the Brisbane Lions will put out their best midfield against Port Adelaide on Sunday, and Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch is confident of an upset.
Dayne Beams' return from knee tendinitis means he will team with Captain Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley, Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich for the first time in 2016 and just the fourth time in his two seasons at the Lions.
Speaking prior to the team's main training session at the Gabba on Friday morning, Leppitsch was as thrilled as a first-game player.
"We've got our best group together since I've been here, so that's exciting," he said.
“'Beamsy’ will still be a few weeks away from his best football, but just to have the names there in that same midfield mix is fantastic."
Throw in hardened recruits from the past two years in Mitch Robinson, Allen Christensen, Ryan Bastinac and Tom Bell, and the Lions suddenly have an exciting and versatile group to run through the midfield.
Leppitsch said he didn't expect much from Beams first-up but, fresh from a strong showing against the Sydney Swans, felt his team could spring a surprise at Adelaide Oval.
The Lions upset Port at the Gabba last year, which also gave the coach belief.
"You can play well and lose or you can play poorly and win sometimes. We played well and lost on the weekend," Leppitsch said.
"If we bring the same level of intensity and effort, I know the scoreboard will be different this week.
"We go down to Port Adelaide on a bit of a mission to try and get the job done.
"(With) our best footy and our best game style, we beat them last year. That's the bottom line.
"If our players forget the crowd, forget the venue and focus on what we need to do, why can't we do it again?"
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