Harris Andrews says he'll take no shortcuts in his rehabilitation from a hamstring tear, even if that means missing finals.
Brisbane's Virgin Australia AFL All Australian defender is expected to miss up to six weeks after suffering the injury against Collingwood last Friday night and said he won't be rushed.
"It's important to not try and get too far ahead in the rehab program," Andrews said on Thursday.
"I'm not getting caught up in the "when he'll be back", I'm just focusing on the day by day of getting better.
"Hopefully I've got a long career ahead of me and risking one game probably isn't the right answer at this point.
"I'll be doing everything I can to get my body right (and) get my hamstring right.
"We'll worry about that when we get there."
Following Brisbane's emphatic 45-point QClash win over Gold Coast on Wednesday night, Andrews was at the club's Yeronga training base the following morning to continue his recovery.
He's back slowly jogging and did some strengthening exercises on the boundary line as the reserves team were put through their paces.
The 23-year-old vice-captain said was tired of hearing commentary ruling Brisbane out of the premiership race.
"It was a little bit frustrating hearing from the media … putting a line through us because I'm out," he said.
"I'm a product of our system. The pressure the midfield put on and the other defenders around me like Dizzy (Darcy Gardiner) and Ryan Lester, they make my job so easy and I'm really appreciative of that.
"Last night they performed pretty well without me."
Andrews was "proud" of the performance by his replacement Jack Payne against the Suns, quickly reminding everyone the Lions now have a 7-1 record in his absence since 2018.
Midfielder Jarrod Berry is expected to get scans on the shoulder he injured against Gold Coast later on Thursday.