HE MIGHT have sought his counsel, but Daniel Merrett is not out to emulate Jonathan Brown when he plays forward in the Brisbane Lions' opening match against Melbourne on Saturday.

The biggest shift in the Lions' set-up after Brown's fractured cheekbone last month has been the move of regular full-back Merrett to the forward line.

Coach Michael Voss trialled it in the NAB Cup against Carlton, with success, and will stick with his best defender playing forward against the Demons.

But Merrett said there was no way he would be trying to play like Brown.

"I definitely couldn't do what Browny does, so I'll just try to stick to what I'm good at and play my game," he said.

"I still feel like I'm just doing a role for the team so I don't see it as a long-term thing, but you never know. Fraser Gehrig went forward and kicked 100.

"But I'm just doing my role for the team, and where they need me most is up forward so I'll try my hardest to play that position and wait for the skipper to come back."

Merrett, 27, was drafted to the Lions in 2002 as a raw-boned forward who was sent to defence by Leigh Matthews at the back end of 2006.

He has gone on to become the Lions' - and one of the competition's - most reliable key backs.

Brown is due to return against Fremantle in round three, and Merrett said he had leaned on his long-time teammate for advice on his forward push.

"Browny's great to bounce things off. He's definitely one to get his opinion on how things are going and if it's not working to see what's going wrong," Merrett said.

"I had a pretty good feel of it all before I went down there, but you definitely have to change your thinking with all the set-ups being down the other end of the ground."

Merrett has 17 career goals in his 113 games, but showed plenty of promise in the pre-season match against the Blues, splitting packs, creating a contest and finishing off with three goals.

He said his aim against Melbourne would be similar.

"I think it's pretty important when the guys are under pressure to be able to look up and have a target there, so that's what my role is.

"It is very different not being in defenders' meetings during the week and reviews and being with the forwards; it's a different crew.

"Our defence is probably our most mature group and we have a lot of discussions and probably run the meetings, where our forwards are probably the youngest group in the team so it's just a whole different dynamic. It's good and definitely makes you think a bit more."

Merrett said he had full confidence in Matt Maguire and Joel Patfull to shut down former Lion and new Melbourne target man Mitch Clark.

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting