While their senior counterparts are preparing their all-important clash against St Kilda in Wellington, the Brisbane Lions Reserves will get to experience an ANZAC Day experience of their own.

Hauup Park in the northern Queensland town of Mackay will host the second annual NEAFL ANZAC Day blockbuster between two aligned AFL teams.

Last year it was an all-Queensland affair with the Lions facing off against the Gold Coast Suns, however this time around the Sydney Swans will be coming to town to take on the Lions.

And to the delight of the Mackay locals, there will be a few big-name AFL players lining up for the occasion.

Sydney currently sits second on the NEAFL with just one loss from their four matches, while the Lions’ upset win over Aspley last weekend sees them move into eighth spot with a 2-2 record.

But the Swans are set to be bolstered by the inclusion of 2012 Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe, who has struggled in his senior games so far this season.  

Premiership player Sam Reid has also been named as an emergency for the Swans’ senior side, which means he could be another inclusion.

Development Coach Matthew Francis said it would be an exciting opportunity for the Lions Reserves to line-up against at least one of the genuine stars of the AFL competition.

“There’s a chance they’ll be up against some A-grade opposition,” Francis told lions.com.au.

“Ryan O’Keefe has already been named in their side, but there’s an outside chance that Sam Reid could play as well given he’s not in their senior side.”

The Lions, meanwhile, will be led by Mitch Golby, who was omitted from the senior team this week, along with Jordan Lisle, Jackson Paine, and Rohan Bewick.

It means the Lions side will feature most listed players than the one that defeated the Hornets last Saturday.

“With some senior players returning, we’ll have better numbers in terms of listed players,” Francis said.

“With Merrett, Hanley and Green all returning to the senior team, a couple of boys will come back and add some experience to our line-up. I have no doubt that will help our younger players as well, as it will give them more guidance out on the field.

The ANZAC Day clash will also be the first time this season that the Lions Reserves have had to travel together – an experience that Francis believe is invaluable in preparing players for the elite level.

“It will be the first trip for a lot of these boys, so it should be a wonderful learning experience,” he said.

“It gives them a chance to see what it’s like to prepare for a game when you have to travel, because it’s a bit different and is something they’re going to have to get used to.”

The Lions’ coaching staff will also get a chance to gauge how their players handle a quality opponent on a big occasion.

“It’s a real good indicating game,” Francis said.

“We’ll be able to gauge our improvement over the last month. And it’s important that those who played well last week against Aspley continue to play well.”

The final squads, as they appeared in the Daily Mercury, are listed below:

LIONS
Mitch Golby (c), Jordon Bourke, Sam Michael, Ryan Harwood, Daniel McStay, Isaac Conway, Rohan Bewick, Jack Crisp, Darcy Cameron Reeves, Jackson Paine, Michael Close, Cameron Stevenson, Jordan Lisle, Jono Freeman, Matt Maguire, Archie Smith, Zac O'Brien, Nick Hayes. James Raynor, Jacob Watson, Matt Hammelmann, Ben Keays, Henry Leong

SWANS
Tim Membrey, Ryan O'Keefe, Tom Mitchell, Zak Jones, Toby Nankervis, Gary Rohan, Jordan Lockyer, Dean Towers, Daniel Robinson, Matthew Dick, George Hewett, Harrison Marsh, Aliir Aliir, Lloyd Perris, Xavier Richards, Patrick Mitchell, Shane Biggs, Jordan Foote, Jack Hiscox, Doug Hadden, Abe Davis, Tom Head, Matt Vicic, Michael Dickson