Harris Andrews is barely 21 but will captain Brisbane for the first time on Saturday against Sydney in its JLT Community Series opener at Burpengary. 

Andrews is the first Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy player to captain the Club, and takes the leadership reins in the absence of captain Dayne Beams and vice-captain Dayne Zorko. 

Andrews has been earmarked as a future full-time skipper of the Lions and says he's excited about Saturday.

"Firstly, to get put into the leadership group last year and to work my way up, and now with a couple of boys out this weekend, it's a good opportunity to lead," he said.

"I'm pretty vocal on the ground. I think I do a reasonably good job of talking to my teammates and instructing them."

The Lions will not only have a stand-in skipper for its match, but a stand-in coach, with Murray Davis given the senior duties by Chris Fagan for the day. 

While Fagan liaises with players from the bench, regular backline coach Davis will lead a team missing just Beams, Zorko and Luke Hodge from its best possible line-up.

"The club's been terrific to give us those opportunities," Davis said.

"It gives us a really good appreciation of what a head coach goes through and it allows me as an assistant coach to know how I can support him week to week.

"It's all about learning and I'm very thankful for the opportunity."

With the three older players all expected to return to play Gold Coast on March 11, the competition for Round 1 spots is hot. 

Andrews said Sydney was the ideal first opponent to test what type of inroads the Lions had made in the past few months.

"We've worked really hard over the summer with our contested ball, so going into the game against one of the powerhouses in the competition in that contested ball space, but also as a team, it's a really good opportunity for us," he said.