The Brisbane Lions have named their 27-man squad who will travel to Melbourne to play Collingwood on Saturday night – with the winner all but guaranteeing themselves a place in the 2013 NAB Cup Grand Final.

Co-captain Jonathan Brown will lead his team for the first time in 2013 as the most notable inclusion, while several other big-name players also return from resting last week’s game in Wagga Wagga.

Full back Daniel Merrett, reigning Club Champion Joel Patfull, and Vice-Captain Daniel Rich have all been named and look set to line up at Etihad Stadium.

It will be the first time that every member of the Lions' new-look leadership group have been together on the field in a competitive match.

Meanwhile, Jack Redden, Matt Maguire, and Ryan Lester were left out of the squad, while three more players will be trimmed from the team before the start of the match. 

After three rounds, there are four unbeaten teams vying for position at the top of the NAB Cup ladder – the Lions, Collingwood, Carlton and North Melbourne – and the Lions need a win over Collingwood to stay alive in the pre-season competition.

The Lions' full 27-man squad for Saturday night has been listed below. All travelling players will also appear at the Devine Brisbane Lions Victorian Family Fun Day at Etihad Stadium on the Sunday morning after the match.

1 - Sam Docherty
3 - Brent Moloney
5 - Billy Longer
6 - Josh Green
7 - Jed Adcock (c)
8 - Rohan Bewick
9 - Ash McGrath
10 - Daniel Rich (vc)
11 - Pearce Hanley
12 - Stefan Martin
15 - Dayne Zorko
16 - Jonathan Brown (c)
17 - Claye Beams
18 - Todd Banfield
21 - Daniel Merrett
22 - Marco Paparone
23 - Matthew Leuenberger
24 - Joel Patfull
26 - Elliot Yeo
28 - Patrick Karnezis
29 - Andrew Raines
31 - James Polkinghorne
38 - Tom Rockliff (vc)
41 - Mitch Golby
42 - Justin Clarke (r)
44 - Aaron Cornelius
46 - Sam Michael (r)

(c) - Captain, (vc) - Vice Captain, (r) - Rookie

IN: McGrath, Rich, Brown, Merrett, Patfull, Raines

OUT: Redden, Lester, Maguire