BRISBANE Lions vice-captain Jed Adcock could make an unexpected return for the side's clash with the Sydney Swans in round 22 if he gets through an AFLQ hit-out this weekend.

Barring any last-minute hiccups, Adcock will be joined by emerging ruckman Matthew Leuenberger in the Lions reserves' game against the Western Magpies on Saturday.

Just six weeks ago, Adcock's season seemed finished by a knee injury while Leuenberger's return from knee surgery and a post-operative staph infection makes this his first game since round three.

The fitness of both players, along with tagger Troy Selwood (neck), small forward Rhan Hooper (hamstring) and running defender Pearce Hanley (hamstring), is a timely boost for a Lions side that has gone three weeks without a win.

Coach Michael Voss said Adcock was playing reserves this week "to get his eye in".

"We toyed with playing him back in seniors but we think realistically to give him the best chance to come back is probably better through reserves," he said.

Voss said Leuenberger was likely to need more time in reserves because he had been out for a longer period, but had not ruled him out of AFL finals contention if things went well.

"We've got Rhan back, we've got Pearce back, so those particular players give us some genuine run," he said. "We talk about freshness, they're fresh and raring to go.

"You should see Jed. He's going to rip a few people's heads off at the moment."

While the Lions have had diabolical finishes to seasons since 2005, Voss believes they are in good shape to buck that trend.

They have lost to Collingwood, drawn with Essendon and lost to the Western Bulldogs in the past three weeks, but Voss suggested it was more a reflection of the opposition.

"I think we're in really good shape. I think we've managed the group really well so I don't think they're tired at all," he said.

"We've got more players coming back and playing so I'm not concerned at all. We've been able to manage quite carefully to the back half of the year and what is more the step-up in intensity. We haven't made that step-up yet in the last two or three weeks.

"We've played against some good opposition; Collingwood, who are a genuine top-three team, we've played against the Bulldogs who are a genuine top-four team and we've played Essendon who have knocked off the top side.

"We have played some sides that have been in genuine form, so if you look at that as a form comparison, maybe we're not as far off as what people think."