Injuries to key players Matthew Leuenberger and Pearce Hanley will cause even more headaches for the Brisbane Lions selectors who will meet today to discuss potential replacements.

There will be at least two forced changes to the side that suffered a disappointing 113-point loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval last Saturday.

It wasn’t much better in the NEAFL either, as the Lions Reserves were also handed a triple-figure defeat by Redland.

With so many senior players currently sidelined through injury and suspension, the Lions’ Match Committee might look at adding some more experience bodies in Andrew Raines, Matt Maguire and James Polkinghorne – all of whom are yet to play a senior match in 2014.

Ryan Lester, who was probably unlucky to be omitted for the Port game, is another who could comfortably step back into the senior side and add some much-needed grunt to the midfield.

Lions fans could also get their first glimpse of off-season signing Luke McGuane, who played three quarters in the NEAFL last week after overcoming a knee complaint.

It was McGuane’s first outing since the team’s third NAB Challenge match against Sydney at Burpengary six weeks ago, and could be enough for him to make his Lions debut against his former side this Thursday.

There’s also a host of young players in the Reserves who could become the latest Lions to make their senior debut, including Darcy Gardiner, Daniel McStay, Zac O’Brien, and Jordon Bourke.

One area in desperate need of some re-shuffling is the team's ruck division, although Trent West should be able to shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities in Leuenberger’s absence.

West will require some support on occasion, which poses a problem considering back-up ruckmen Stefan Martin and Sam Michael are also nursing injuries, while the Club’s other ruckman, rookie Archie Smith, is still only in the early stages of his AFL development.

Jordan Lisle has helped to pinch-hit in the ruck previously, so may be an option. However, that would potentially then leave the backline short of key defenders (particular with Merrett still serving one more game’s suspension) – which is where someone like Maguire or Gardiner could prove valuable.

Maguire and Jonathan Freeman have also been spending some time in the ruck with the Reserves.

All will be revealed when the final Brisbane Lions’ Round 4 team is announced tonight.