If the Brisbane Lions are in front of St Kilda after half an hour on Saturday night, chances are they’ll win the game.

In the 13 clashes between the sides at the Gabba the Lions have never lost after leading at Quarter time.

It seems the margin at the first change is irrelevant against the Saints; if the home team holds any sort of early ascendancy they prevail.

They’ve led by as much as 37 points (Round 2, 1997) and as little as 1 point (Round 2, 2007) but always got the same full time result.

It’s an encouraging statistic considering the Lions’ recent run of fast starts.

Since their sluggish first half against the Kangaroos in round 9, they’ve trailed at quarter time only once.

That hiccup came last week against the ladder-leading Swans, but previous to that the Lions got the early jump on heavyweights Hawthorn and West Coast, as well as the Bulldogs and Dees.

Conversely, if the home team happens to stall a little out of the blocks on Saturday, there’s still every chance they’ll be singing the club song after the final siren.

History shows the Lions have overturned a quarter time deficit to beat the Saints at the Gabba on three occasions.

The Lions trailed by 10 points at quarter time in round 22, 1998 and round 21, 2000 and won by 1 and 90 points respectively.

They also triumphed by 61 points in round 11, 2002 after falling behind by a goal at the first break.

St Kilda might be hoping the score’s square after the opening stanza on Saturday.

Round 15, 2010 is the only time the teams have been tied at Quarter time, and the Saints came out on top by 14 points that night.