FOR THE second Saturday night in a row, the Brisbane Lions will play on the biggest stage in the game with a chance to clinch a finals spot.

After last week’s loss to Collingwood, the Lions have made three changes to the side including the return from a hamstring injury of full-forward Daniel Bradshaw.

Tim Notting also comes back from suspension, and Scott Harding comes in at the expense of omitted trio Bradd Dalziell, Tom Rockliff and Jason Roe.

First-year player Sam Sheldon said the Lions’ young players had learned plenty from last week’s loss.

“I’m not sure how many people were there but it was so loud you couldn’t hear the whistle sometimes,” he said.

“It was a big occasion for some of us young guys and we’ll be a lot better for that experience and we’ll bounce back.

“Essendon are a very quick and very talented side and we’ll stick to our structures and do our best to stem the flow.”

The Bombers have made five changes to the team that lost to the West Coast last week as they seek to stay in the finals hunt.

Mark McVeigh and Alwyn Davey are among the big ins, while Andrew Lovett (leg) and Scott Lucas (knee) are the notable outs.

The teams
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, James Hawksley
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Sam Sheldon, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
Int: Scott Harding, Tim Notting, Troy Selwood, Jack Redden

In: Bradshaw, Notting, Harding
Out: Bradd Dalziell (omit), Tom Rockliff (omit), Jason Roe (omit).

Essendon
B: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Tayte Pears, Jarrod Atkinson
HB: Henry Slattery, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Kyle Reimers, Ricky Dyson, Mark McVeigh
HF: Alwyn Davey, Michael Hurley, Angus Monfries
F: Michael Quinn, Jay Neagle, Sam Lonergan
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Prismall, Jobe Watson
Int: Brent Stanton, Courtenay Dempsey, Heath Hocking, Bachar Houli

In: Atkinson, McVeigh, Quinn, Davey, Houli
Out: Hayden Skipworth, Cale Hooker, Andrew Lovett (leg), Scott Lucas (knee), Andrew Welsh (leg).

On the punt
The Lions will start quite firm favourites on Saturday night. Despite last week’s loss on the same ground, they are $1.55 fancies to Essendon’s $2.35. Elsewhere around the league, St Kilda’s five changes have caused a massive betting plunge on Hawthorn for their match at Launceston. The Hawks, coming off a loss to Port Adelaide, are listed at $1.60, while the undefeated Saints are $2.25. They might be missing Reiwoldt, Montagna, Goddard and co, but their depth is still impressive – as are odds outside even money.

Key match-up
Tayte Pears (Essendon) v Jonathan Brown (Lions). Brown is arguably the in-form player of the competition over the past month and his output will again be another key factor to the winner on Saturday night. Pears is young and might look a tad outmatched but he spent time on the Lions skipper in round six and was serviceable. McPhee might be another match-up for Brown, but the NAB AFL Rising Star nominee should get the first crack. Fletcher will be on the lookout as a spare man and trying to spoil any contest involving Brown as the third man in.

Odds and sods
Essendon have walloped the Lions the last three times they’ve played in Melbourne. They have averaged a staggering 147 points a contest and won by an average of 46 points. However all three matches were played at Docklands.

These two teams are two of the poorest in the competition at the stoppages. The Lions are ranked 14th and Essendon 15th in clearances per game. The Lions are also the lowest scoring team currently in the top eight, and are even out-scored by the ninth-placed Bombers.

Essendon are notoriously slow starters. They have won just seven of their 18 first quarters this year, and seven of their second quarters – which is the lowest of any team in the top 10 in either term. Conversely, they have won 12 third quarters this year, equal top in the competition with the Lions, Collingwood and St Kilda.

And the winner is ...
The Lions have shown a strong resolve to bounce back from heavy losses and this will be no different. They comfortably dealt with Essendon in round six off the back of a Geelong mauling, and more recently knocked over the Cats after Port Adelaide hammered them in round 14. Following last week’s lesson by Collingwood, expect the Lions’ run and more importantly their intensity to return for the entire four quarters. On the flipside, the Bombers have lost three on the trot and seem to be running out of their early-season legs. They will come out blazing, but the Lions’ midfield is in tip-top order and the return of Bradshaw should be enough to help them kick a winning score. Lions by 25.