IT WASN'T long ago Matthew Leuenberger was in Justin Leppitsch's doghouse, but the wheel is slowly turning.
After doing well against Adelaide last start, Brisbane Lions coach Leppitsch believes Leuenberger can give as good as he gets against Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands on Sunday.
Match Preview: Lions V Fremantle
It's a big change of heart for Leppitsch, who dropped Leuenberger for three weeks early in the season and has played him predominantly forward behind number one ruck option Stefan Martin.
But with Martin suspended for two weeks following an elbow to the throat of Adelaide's Luke Brown, Leuenberger will play one-out against Sandilands.
And his coach is full of confidence.
"We gave him more ruck time last week, so it's worked out good timing," Leppitsch said.
"I thought he did really well against (Sam) Jacobs with his time on him. We go in really confident and Matty goes in really confident.
"He's got some weapons that I think Sandilands would be worried about as well.
"We all know Sandilands wins the hit-outs, but I think Matty's got some goods that can worry the opposition as well."
Leuenberger is a free agent at the end of the season and talks with the club are yet to get underway.
It was a similar scenario to Martin last year, whose career was at the crossroads before a withering finish to 2014 earned him a new two-year deal.
Leppitsch said things had to be kept in perspective when assessing Leuenberger's form.
"Matty's been playing predominantly forward and not in the ruck - you can't forget that, and he's not a forward," he said.
"Now Matty gets the opportunity to be a full-time mid, as Stefan Martin did in the last nine weeks last year, and he did pretty well when he got that opportunity.
"When ruckmen get the full-time crack, they tend to play better."
Leppitsch said Irishman Pearce Hanley would have to be "110 per cent" fit to make the trip to Perth after coming off with a tight hamstring against Adelaide.
