BRISBANE Lions recruit Allen Christensen won't be thrown into the fray too deeply as he makes his return from back surgery.

The 23-year-old will play his first game in Lions colours on Friday night against Gold Coast, but coach Justin Leppitsch says the former Cat will likely be subbed out of the match at some stage.

Christensen had his second back surgery last September, and will play a mix of time in the midfield and forward against the Suns.

But after Christensen's injury-riddled 2014 in which he played just eight games, Leppitsch said the softly-softly approach might be best for the coming season.

"I think this whole year we'll have to manage Allen, to be honest," Leppitsch said before Lions training at Coorparoo on Thursday morning.

"There may be a time we'll have to rest him throughout the season, given the fact he hasn't had a pre-season, and he's gone a year or two where he hasn't had full years.

"We have to be pretty smart with him the way we manage him."

Christensen only joined the main training group after the Christmas break, but has progressed quickly with both his fitness and his touch.

Leppitsch is licking his lips at what the 2011 premiership player can potentially bring to his already exciting mix of half-forwards and midfielders.

"He's a very good player. You can see he's a boy that's grown up with a ball in his hand," Leppitsch said.

"He's got smart decision-making skills - he's got the lot - he's just got to get his fitness back, and we have to manage that with his time."

The Lions and Gold Coast meet again in round five, and Leppitsch said he was most concerned with getting through the final NAB Challenge match injury-free.

While he is just Pearce Hanley (hip) short of a full-strength team, Gold Coast is still missing a host of automatic top-team selections, including skipper Gary Ablett.

When asked whether he thought Ablett could play round one on April 4 without a pre-season game under his belt, Leppitsch reflected on his own glittering career.

"I did it in 2004, came off the same shoulder surgery and played round one without a pre-season (game). I can't remember how well I went. Probably kicked five and smashed it, I can't remember," he said, laughing.

"It's doable, is all I'm saying. He's a mature player; he's a superstar. I'd be playing him anyway without a pre-season game because he's that good a player."

For the record, Leppitsch had 16 disposals, kicked one goal and played every minute of that round one match against the Sydney Swans in 2004.