THE BRISBANE Lions believe they're in for one hell of a fight from Collingwood on Saturday night, as the under-siege Magpies seek to turn around their spluttering season with a win at the Gabba.
Lions coach Justin Leppitsch says escaping from Melbourne might be just the catalyst the Magpies need to reverse their 2-5 start to the year … but his team will be ready.
The teams have won just three matches between them and would both see the match as a huge opportunity to relieve some pressure.
"They'll get to get away from Melbourne, where they do cop a bit of the heat, and come up here and want to have a good away win," Leppitsch said.
"I'm sure they've built themselves up for that.
"We've got to expect a fight and it's going to be two teams, similar place on the ladder, both very young teams, that are going to have a go at it this week."
The Lions have been proud home ground defenders so far in 2016.
At the Gabba they've pushed unbeaten North Melbourne, defeated then unbeaten Gold Coast, and got within a kick of the Sydney Swans.
Leppitsch said the Lions had to be harder not only in the contest, but throughout the match.
"When the hard times come, which they do in every game, we've just got to show a bit more fight than we did in the second quarter (against Port Adelaide) last week," he said.
"If we get the most important parts of our game right, which is the contested ball pressure, we can move the ball fairly well.
"We have to do the tough stuff first.
"We're all tired of losing. Everyone gets sick of it.
"I think we've had some improvements within our club this year, so we've also got to look at that.
"Winning helps everything, though, it papers over every crack you've got."
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