SIX MONTHS after one of the greatest Grand Finals of all time, Collingwood and Brisbane will meet again at the Gabba on Thursday night but in very different circumstances to when they faced off in September.

The Lions and the Magpies are the first two teams to play off in the decider then both back it up with a 0-2 start. In fact, the Magpies have even gone one worse with a third straight loss, while the Lions were licking their wounds last week during a bye. 

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One of the Grand Finalists is set to break through for their first win of the season, unless there is a draw, in their round three clash.

Brisbane (0-2) has been hot and cold, then hot again, in its two losses this season. Scintillating starts have been followed by poor second and third terms that have left the Lions with too much to do in belated fightbacks.

The Lions' return to the Gabba, where their loss to Carlton in Opening Round was their first at the venue in 15 matches, should only boost a side looking to bounce back in the Grand Final rematch.

Collingwood (0-3) has become just the fifth reigning premier to lose the first three matches of the following season and is quickly running out of time to turn its form around.

History is already against the Magpies as no side has been 0-3 then made the top four since 2007, while you have to go back to 1976 to find the last similarly sluggish starter that reached the Grand Final.

The Lions will be boosted by the return of Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale from a hamstring injury, as well as Jack Payne and Darcy Fort. Out of the side go Conor McKenna (hamstring) and the axed Darcy Gardiner and Jarryd Lyons.

For the Pies, Steele Sidebottom is being managed while Oleg Markov has been dropped, with Will Hoskin-Elliott and John Noble coming into the team.

Brisbane v Collingwood at the Gabba, 6.30pm AEST

NO LATE CHANGES

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Kai Lohmann
Collingwood: Jack Crisp