TOM ROCKLIFF is expecting Collingwood to "go after" Dayne Beams on Saturday night, and the Brisbane Lions will be ready to stand right beside their prized recruit.

Beams has been the central figure in much of the talk ahead the round one clash at the Gabba after leaving the Magpies during the off-season.

Rockliff, the Lions' skipper, says he's expecting an emotional season opener.

"(There's) a lot of emotion in it for him, a lot of emotion in it for his old footy club," Rockliff said ahead of a light training run on Friday morning.

"We're expecting them to come out pretty hard, they'll probably go after him early so it's important we look after him and get on the front foot.

"Hopefully we can get the footy in his hands and he can have an impact on the game."

Earlier in the week Lions coach Justin Leppitsch likened Beams to iconic American actor James Dean, so cool is his demeanour, and Rockliff agreed, saying not much fazed the 25-year-old.

While prepared to protect their gun signing, Rockliff warned his teammates to remain disciplined  in front of a home crowd that could touch on 30,000.

Pre-sales for the match are the biggest in Brisbane since 2010, when Carlton headed north to take on a Lions team that included Brendan Fevola.

"I'm sure there'll be plenty of emotion in the game," Rockliff said.

"You want controlled aggression, you don't want to overstep the mark. You don't want to be giving free kicks away.

"You want to set a hard tone. You want to put your head over the footy. You want to tackle hard, that's the way you set the game up.

"We think if we can get our contested footy right, smack in and get harder and lower than they do, that gives us an opportunity (to win)."