Jack Redden is just one of a long list of first-choice Brisbane Lions players who are being rested for Thursday night’s opening NAB Challenge match against Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.

Redden will join the likes of Jonathan Brown, Daniel Rich, Jed Adcock, Daniel Merrett, Matthew Leuenberger, Pearce Hanley, Joel Patfull, Brent Staker, Brent Moloney on the sidelines.

But the Lions can expect to see most of their stars return for the team’s second practice match against Gold Coast in Townsville.

“We’ll probably field stronger sides as we get closer to Round 1 of the home-and-away season,” Redden said.

While the Lions’ NAB Challenge squad includes 11 first-gamers and just four players with 50 or more AFL games, the Hawks’ team features a dozen of their 2014 premiership players.  

Although the odds might be stacked against the Lions this Thursday, Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said the result itself would take a back seat to ensuring the team was well prepared for Round One of the season proper.

With Hawthorn awaiting the Lions again in Round One, the selection of a more inexperienced side might also be a ploy by Leppitsch and his team to keep their cards close to their chest ahead of their more important clash in Tasmania on Saturday 22 March.