BRISBANE Lions full-back Daniel Merrett wants to play every pre-season match after fully recovering from a back injury that derailed his 2011 season.

Merrett copped a knock against the Sydney Swans in round 11 - later diagnosed as a stress reaction - and sat out the rest of the year.

Prior to the injury the vice-captain was in the form of his life and being mentioned alongside Darren Glass and Matthew Scarlett as a possible All Australian selection.

Merrett said at a push he could have played the final few rounds but was more intent on being fully fit for the pre-season.

He has not missed a session.

"The body's good. I've got a bit better with my endurance and it's just getting that touch back now," Merrett said.

"I was lucky through that break to have a training partner in Jonathan Brown (who was recovering from a broken jaw), so it was good to have someone to train with to get that touch back.

"That's what pre-season games will be all about ... getting that match intensity.
I'll try and play all pre-season games, which I'll be looking forward to."

Merrett said although his injury was not a biomechanical problem, he had worked extra hard on developing his core to ensure as much strength as possible in that region.

He has also worked tirelessly on his endurance.

"As you do every pre-season you get improvements here and there, they're not massive, but you just keep chipping away. My big point is my endurance and I've just got to chip away at that," he said.

"With the program so far, we've seen improvements across the board and I'm one of the beneficiaries of that."

The 27-year-old put his stellar early season form last year down to an increased intensity at both training and on game day and was confident he would carry that over this season.

If bookends Merrett and Brown can dodge the injury curse that dogged them last season, it will go a long way towards lifting the Lions from their 15th place finish.

"Culturally I feel we're in a really good spot moving into the season," Merrett said.

"To have your skipper out there is always pretty handy. When he's missing most of the year, especially the influence Browny has, it's pretty tough. The group definitely walks taller when he's out there."

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