TRAINING smarter has agreed with Brisbane Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger this pre-season, with the injury-prone big man saying he's "raring and ready to go" after sitting out most of last year.

Knee and Achilles injuries have restricted Leuenberger to just 94 games since he was taken with pick No. 6 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.

His injury curse continued in 2014 when he tore his meniscus in round four and he only returned to senior ranks for the final round.

But the athletic 203cm big man has taken a less is more approach this summer and Leuenberger said he has enjoyed one of his best pre-seasons.

"Personally I have felt really, really good so far," he told the Courier Mail.

"I've been on a bit of a modified program and train two out of the three sessions and will do a bit of cross training during the other session. But I'm feeling really healthy and raring and ready to go.

"I think having the modified program has helped a lot. Going by history whenever I've done a full pre-season I've sort of broken down, so it's just about getting through it this year, especially coming off an interrupted year last season.

"I've probably missed two out of the past three seasons, so it's just about figuring out a way to get on the park."

Former Melbourne ruckman Stefan Martin thrived in the second half of last season in Leuenberger's absence and averaged more than 22 disposals and 28 hit-outs in the final 12 games.

Leuenberger said he needed to adapt to sharing the ruck duties with the 197cm ex-Demon in 2015.

"A lot has changed since I was playing regularly. Stefan Martin has come on the scene and he was incredible last year, and now it's just about trying to figure out a partnership with him," Leuenberger said.

"I have been a bit used to playing one-out when I've been fit, so I've just got to adapt to having someone else there in Stef, because he's just too good to not have in there."

Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said he was keen to unleash the exciting ruck duo in combination with the club's potent and new-look midfield, which has been bolstered by the off-season arrivals of Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen and Mitch Robinson.

"You talk about a ruck combination and when they're up and going and you get first use of the football that can be the game," he said.

"We saw in the Grand Final, you can have a forward like Lance Franklin but if you get starved of opportunity it's pointless. With him and Stef firing, given the quality of our midfield it really does put pressure on the opposition's defence."

The Lions open their NAB Challenge campaign on February 28 against St Kilda in Burpengary.