The Brisbane Lions will be trying to stretch Sydney’s well-drilled defence when the two sides meet at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans’ backline has once again proven difficult to score against in 2013, conceding the third least amount of points so far this season (428). Considering Geelong contributed 124 points to that total back in Round 4, it means Sydney has averaged a miserly 76 points against across their other four matches.

The Lions, meanwhile, are currently the third lowest scoring team in the competition with just 414 points from five matches.

Such statistics would suggest the Lions will need to buck the trend if they’re to kick a winning score.

The Lions’ Match Committee have responded by naming a tall forward line featuring Matthew Leuenberger (204cm) Jonathan Brown (196cm), and Aaron Cornelius (192cm) – with Billy Longer (202cm) and Marco Paparone (195cm) also likely to rotate through there at times.

Even returning utility Ryan Lester (191cm) is capable of moving forward and presenting a marking option.

Assistant Coach Adrian Fletcher said having a variety of tall marking targets could prove valuable against the relatively under-sized Swans – but only as long as the midfielders can give them good supply.

“It’s a strong looking forward line, but we need to get the ball in there first to be chance of kicking a score,” Fletcher told lions.com.au.

“Sydney generally go one-on-one – especially at the SCG – so we wanted to have players who could potentially mark the ball inside 50m.”

While Pearce Hanley’s return to the side was expected, Fletcher said Lester’s inclusion would give the team some more ‘fresh legs’.

“Ryan’s got the strength and size to compete against guys like Josh Kennedy, Ryan O’Keefe and Jude Bolton in the midfield,” Fletcher said.

“He’s also very versatile, so can shift down back or up forward as we need.”

Simon Black, meanwhile, is scheduled to play his first full match in the NEAFL curtain-raiser.

“Blacky’s only really played limited game time in his two reserves games, so we thought it would be wise to let him get a full game under his belt before we bring him in (to the senior team),” Fletcher said.

“If everything goes well and he gets through a full game, then no doubt he will be seriously considered the following week. He’s a star and we need his ball-winning ability, but it would have been wrong to rush him in with the limited preparation he’s had.”