THE THOUGHT of becoming the Brisbane Lions' next captain sits well with Dayne Zorko.

But the Lions midfielder says he will need to wait another month before their 2017 season leader is decided. 

Zorko has been tipped to step up as Lions skipper after incumbent Tom Rockliff had strained relations at the club by the end of the 2016 campaign.

A captaincy call had been expected to be made by their opening pre-season clash on February 19 against arch-rivals Gold Coast.

But Zorko said new coach Chris Fagan had told players they would have to wait until March before deciding on their next leader.

The Lions open their AFL season proper on March 25, also against the Suns, at Metricon Stadium. 

"It would be a tremendous honour being a Queensland boy myself to be able to captain a great club with a great history," Zorko said on Wednesday. 

"(But) there's been a process Chris has stuck by and it won't be announced until March some time. 

"We will stick with that and whatever happens, happens. 

"Everyone has been able to put their hand up and come forward - now it is up to powers that be and the playing group to make that decision."

Dayne Beams has been another captaincy contender to emerge since Rockliff's fallout at the Lions. 

At the end of 2016, Rockliff requested a trade and then was forced to apologise for a lewd tweet that he admitted disrespected women. 

He opted to play out the final year of his Lions deal in 2017 after receiving little trade-period interest.

Zorko appeared to already have earned teammate Tom Bell's vote.

"I think he is a good fit," Bell said of Zorko as captain. 

"We all know Dayne. He is a tremendous player and showed what he can do in a short period of time."

Fagan replaced Justin Leppitsch as Lions coach for 2017 after Brisbane finished 17th last season - their third-straight finish in the bottom four. 

Asked what Fagan had brought to the club, Zorko said: "Freshness - it's a clean slate for all the players. 

"We've totally forgotten what has happened in previous years and moved forward. 

"He has told everyone not to worry about it - let's restart and go again."

In a shot in the arm for the rebuilding Lions, Queensland brewers XXXX signed on as a major sponsor for the next five years.