After playing in just five of a possible 34 senior matches during his first 18 months in Brisbane, Stefan Martin’s AFL career looked to be on knife’s edge.

Martin battled a persistent foot injury for most of his first season with the Club, while a back complaint severely delayed his 2014 campaign.

To compound matters, the Lions recruited ready-made ruckman Trent West during the off-season, with a plan of playing him as Matthew Leuenberger’s back-up.

But long-term injuries to Leuenberger, and later West, created an opening for Martin who has made an opportune return to the field mid-season.

No one could have predicted the impact he’s had on the Lions over the past eight rounds, but few would argue that Martin now stands as the form ruckman of the competition.

The athletic 27-year-old is now a key member of the much-improved Lions side, with the Club currently in negotiations with his management regarding a contract extension.

Having secured signatures from a number of promising young players in recent weeks – including Darcy Gardiner, Lewy Taylor, Ryan Lester, Nick Robertson, and Marco Paparone – General Manager of Football Operations, Dean Warren, now has Martin in his focus.

“I had initial discussions with Stef’s manager, Paul Connors, last month and we have just started negotiations,” Warren told The Courier Mail on Wednesday.

“Obviously, at the start of the year we all thought Stef’s career was at the crossroads, but his form in the last six or seven weeks has been very, very good.”

Martin, who comes out of contract at the end of the season, has already commented that he sees his future in Brisbane.

"I'm really enjoying my life up here," he said.

"I would love to be here. The footy club's been great to me and I really appreciate that. I love the club a lot and it'd be great to be here for a long time."

Meanwhile, Warren said that he’s confident of adding one-year extensions to the deals of first-year players Daniel McStay and Tom Cutler.

“There’s no alarm bells there. They have both indicated they are very happy and very keen to stay. We are staying in constant contact with their managers,” Warren said.