Young Lion Cameron Wood's rapid transformation may prevent a fit-again Jamie Charman returning for a mouth-watering ruck duel with Peter Everitt at the SCG.

Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews says Charman is available to play the Swans, but isn't guaranteed a start in Sunday's AFL rivalry-round clash.

Matthews has been highly impressed with 20-year-old Wood's massive improvement since being "slaughtered" in his last appearance in Sydney last August.

Without assistance from Charman or Beau McDonald, Wood was overpowered and outclassed by Swans pair Darren Jolly and Stephen Doyle in the ruck.

Ex-Hawk Everitt has bolstered Sydney's ruck division this season and was in vintage form with 20 disposals and 24 hit-outs in the Swan's two-goal win over Richmond at the MCG.

"They have two big ruckman (Everitt and Jolly) and it will be a real good challenge for Cameron Wood," Matthews said.

"We went to Sydney late last year and Jolly and Doyle, I thought, dominated the ruck duels more than any ruck game I've seen and we just got slaughtered.

"So Cameron, I think, eight months on, is much more capable of being better and he'll be accompanied by either Beau or 'Charmo' (Charman) depending on what transpires during the week."

Adelaide product Wood has bulked up so considerably during the off-season that Matthews has commented that the 204cm beanpole has turned from a boy into a man.

The influential Charman missed Brisbane's victories over Hawthorn and St Kilda with an achilles problem but is likely to edge out McDonald to partner Wood in his first premiership match of the season.

The 24-year-old, though, may well be stationed more in the forward 50 than play in the rucks.

"Whichever two ruckmen we play - and I doubt we'll play all three - that one of those we might have to use in attack more often than sitting on the bench," said Matthews.

As well as Charman, co-captain Nigel Lappin (thigh) is set to return, leaving the Lions with another selection dilemma after very few disappointed in the stirring win over the Saints.

Sydney's 50-50 hopes of having spearhead Barry Hall (knee) on board for the match appear to have strengthened and coach Paul Roos will give him every chance to play.

It would provide rising full-back Daniel Merrett with another litmus test after haunting Fraser Gehrig on Thursday night.

Matthews believes Hall is as important to the Swans as Jonathan Brown is to his team.

"He's their big strong, skilful power forward like Jonathan Brown is for us," he said. "There's not too many of them in the whole competition."

But the Swan Matthews most fears is hard-running big man Adam Goodes.

The Lions coach is considering following the lead of the Tigers, who put 186cm Dean Polo on Goodes, by giving short tagger Ben Fixter the match-up.

"[Goodes] is the guy who's most capable of destroying you because he's a different player," Matthews said.

"He might outmark you one or twice but he's going to kill you if you can't keep up with him."