The Brisbane Lions will likely enter Saturday’s match against the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne without their two first-choice ruckmen.

Trent West will have scans today on a knee injury suffered against Carlton last Saturday night and is expected to miss, while Matthew Leuenberger remains sidelined with a knee concern of his own.

It leaves Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch and his coaching staff with few options.

Stefan Martin’s timely return from injury has him squarely in the frame to replace West, although rookie Archie Smith could prove a surprise inclusion.

Martin has played two NEAFL matches since overcoming a back complaint which kept him out for most of the pre-season as well as the first two months of the season.

However, he has 62 senior AFL matches under his belt, and has previously played the number one ruck role with Melbourne in the absence of Mark Jamar.

Meanwhile, Smith – a standout junior basketballer and son of former Brisbane Bullets star Andre Moore – has only been playing with the oval-shaped ball for a little over 12 months.

The 201cm 18-year-old has come along in leaps and bounds with the Lions Reserves so far this season, but is still only in the early stages of his AFL development.

Leppitsch is excited by the prospect of Smith, and likened his athleticism to that of North Melbourne ruck-forward Majak Daw.

“I guess he’s a bit like Majak Daw in that (his potential is) there to see, but the question is how often can he produce it at the top level,” Leppitsch told The Courier Mail.

“He is playing really well, we just have to work out what is best for him.”

Another option would be for the Lions to elevate Sam Michael from the rookie list.

Michael stands at 199cm and has a mature body, despite still being just 20 years of age.

He has been Smith’s back-up in the ruck for much of the NEAFL season, and provides the versatility of playing up forward as well.

Whoever gets the nod will be confronted with quite a task this Saturday, as they’ll be opposed to Western Bulldogs big man Will Minson, who just happens to be the reigning All-Australian ruckman.

But often misfortune presents an opportunity for others, and one of Martin, Smith or even Michael looks destined to get that chance.

Potential ruck replacements