JUSTIN Leppitsch is being confronted with a problem he hasn't faced in his 18 months as Brisbane Lions coach.

Leppitsch says he has genuine selection headaches ahead of Saturday night's match against the Western Bulldogs, with five players returning from injury

Jed Adcock (calf), Darcy Gardiner (calf), Dan McStay (finger), Jack Redden (back) and Ryan Harwood (concussion) are all in line for a return.

And there's more good news around the corner, with captain Tom Rockliff "one or two" weeks away from a return from his broken ribs and full-back Daniel Merrett (hamstring) to be available next week.

Leppitsch says the wheel is now turning after a chronic injury list reduced him to only a handful of options prior to the bye.

"I still think our best footy is in front of us for the year, and every week, as long as we stay injury-free, the continuity builds," Leppitsch said.

"Instead of asking which players you want to give opportunity to, it's more the other way, which ones do you want to take opportunity away from, and that makes it difficult because you have to make some hard calls.

"We want these problems and we want more of them.

"We haven't had enough of them in my 18 months. It's a good problem to have and every coach wants it."

Rockliff is also nearing a return after breaking his ribs for a second time in 2015 against St Kilda inn round nine.

He broke them against Collingwood in round one and played again just three weeks later to defy the initial timeframe of four to six weeks.

Leppitsch said Rockliff was again hoping to return early.

"Like last time he's pushing himself forward every week, but we have to hold him back and make sure he's right," he said.

"He's had a fracture that's been re-fractured, so you're always conservative with those things.

"As a coach, you don't want players playing if they can't perform at their best. If you're half injured, it doesn't help your performance."

Merrett trained strongly on Wednesday and Leppitsch confirmed the veteran would play "some form" of football next week after being unavailable since round one.