THE BRISBANE Lions have welcomed back Jared Brennan and Jamie Charman into the team for Friday night’s clash with Collingwood.

Brennan will play his first match of the regular season after recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained in the pre-season, while Charman is back in for the injured Matthew Leuenberger (knee) after spending a week in reserves to regain fitness.

Albert Proud is the man to miss out at Brennan’s expense.

The sublimely talented Brennan has tormented the Magpies in the past, with a blistering debut against them in 2003 and a seven goal haul at the MCG in 2007.

But onballer Travis Johnstone said the Lions would need a total team effort to unseat Collingwood.

"We struck a bit of form after last week and they’re (Collingwood) going OK so it’s going to be an exciting game.

"We can’t rely on one or two players though. Geelong and Hawthorn have shown in the past few years you need to be well balanced and have everyone do their little bit and that’s what we need."

Collingwood has made four changes to the team that went down to Geelong last week, including the return of full forward Anthony Rocca for his first game since round 13 last season.

Brad Dick (dropped), Ben Johnson (broken leg), Heath Shaw (suspended) and captain Nick Maxwell (suspended) have been replaced by Rocca, Jaxson Barham, Tyson Goldsack and Alan Toovey.

THE TEAMS
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Luke Power, Joel Macdonald, Josh Drummond
C: Bradd Dalziell, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Rich
F: Tim Notting, Daniel Bradshaw, Mitch Clark
Foll: Jamie Charman, Travis Johnstone, Jed Adcock
Int: Jared Brennan, Cheynee Stiller, Jason Roe, Troy Selwood

In: Charman, Brennan
Out: Leuenberger, Proud

Collingwood
B: Shannon Cox, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown, Martin Clark
C: Shane O’Bree, Alan Didak, Dale Thomas
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: John Anthony, Leigh Brown, Anthony Rocca
Foll: Josh Fraser, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Leon Davis, Jaxson Barham, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey

In: Barham, Goldsack, Rocca, Toovey
Out: Brad Dick (omitted), Ben Johnson (broken leg), Heath Shaw (suspended), Nick Maxwell (suspended).

ON THE PUNT
After two wins in the first three weeks, punters have jumped all over the Brisbane Lions. The boys are $1.55 to notch a win against Collingwood ($2.35) on Friday night. There doesn't appear much between these teams, but with the Lions showing an extra grain of grunt against the Swans, the $2.30 for a win under 39.5 points might be the way to go if you're looking for some extra dollars. Away from the Gabba most other matches around the league appear one-sided on paper. North Melbourne and Essendon can't be split at $1.90 each, while Sydney's ($2.15) lock-down approach might just be enough to stifle Carlton ($1.65) in the Harbour City.

KEY MATCH-UP
Jed Adcock (Lions) v Alan Didak (Collingwood):
Containing the Magpies' small forwards will be the key to the Lions' success, particularly with target man Anthony Rocca back to create a few crumbs.

Didak is a player with freakish goal sense and can be a handful for any team and vice-captain Adcock looks the man for the job. Tough enough to wrestle in any contest, but more importantly he can run with Didak as he switches between the midfield and the forward line.

Joel Macdonald also looks likely to go with another Magpie dangerman in Paul Medhurst. Keeping their goal output to a minimum is a big part of any Lions’ blueprint to victory.

ODDS AND SODS
The two clubs have a history significant player trades and Friday night will bring another old Lion back to the Gabba in Shane O'Bree.

Anthony Corrie, who was traded at the end of 2008, missed the Magpies' 22.

Brownlow Medallist Nathan Buckley started in Brisbane before going to the Pies in 1994, while more recently triple premiership player Mal Michael came north in exchange for Jarrod Molloy in time for the 2001 season.

While the clubs have quickly built a great tradition since the Lions' merger with back-to-back Grand Final stoushes in 2002 and 2003, the Lions have clearly had the better of proceedings. Not only did they win the two premierships, but have an overall record of 15-4 against the Magpies.

We're only three rounds into the season but the Lions and Collingwood have remarkably similar for and against tallies. Collingwood have scored 298 points to the Lions' 295, while at the other end of the ground the Lions have conceded 272 points to the Magpies' 276.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.