BRENT Moloney still has a place in the Brisbane Lions’ midfield despite being dropped last week, says coach Justin Leppitsch.

Moloney has appeared to be on the outer with the coach after he was named the substitute in round five against Richmond and then axed prior to last week's win over St Kilda.

But Leppitsch says it was a simple case of team balance and the 30-year-old is every chance of returning to the seniors in the near future.

He said the Lions currently had a lot of fit 'inside midfielders’ like Moloney, and with the season-ending knee injury to Daniel Rich and recent hamstring problems for Pearce Hanley, had to balance with some 'outside' runners.

"Obviously it wasn't an easy decision," Leppitsch said.

"We've got a balance in our midfield that is an important one for us - how many insiders versus how many outsiders.

"A few weeks ago it was Ryan Lester that missed out. It wasn't an easy call.

"You can't play the same one-dimensional types."

Moloney averaged 23 disposals and seven tackles a game through his first month of footy this year, but Leppitsch said it was about offering versatility.

He used second-year player Sam Mayes as an example of someone that could play half-forward, half-back and midfield.

"The challenge for Brent and Ryan and Jack Redden is providing more in other areas as much as their inside work to give us some flexibility," Leppitsch said.

Fresh from their first win of the season against the Saints, the Lions are unlikely to make many changes to play the Sydney Swans at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The teams played during the pre-season just eight weeks ago – a match the Swans won comfortably.

Leppitsch said he was not fazed by the prospect of facing a forward line that could contain Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes.

"It's a pretty good forward line isn't it?" he said.

"All you can do is play the players we've got down there, Clarkey (Justin Clarke), Darcy Gardiner, Joel Patfull, we've got our names there.

"At the end of the day you can't worry too much about that. We can put some contingencies in place to help them and assist them, but ultimately they're the ones doing the job."