BRISBANE players are now convinced their best footy can match the competition's cream.
Following successive wins over Fremantle and Carlton, the Lions have the perfect chance to validate their form on Saturday when they play Hawthorn at its Launceston fortress.
Young forward Eric Hipwood, fresh from a career-best haul of six goals, says although the Lions haven't looked too far ahead, they're excited about playing some top teams over the final seven rounds.
"Fremantle is a quality side and when we beat Hawthorn (in round nine) we played a similar brand to what we play now, so we believe if we're playing our best we can match it with anyone," Hipwood said.
The Lions play top-four teams Collingwood and West Coast and finals aspirants Geelong, North Melbourne, Adelaide and the Hawks on their run home.
Hipwood said making it three wins in succession would be a huge advance for the Lions.
"We haven't looked too much at Hawthorn, but when we do scout them it'll probably be similar to last time – we're certainly going to have to be at our best to get the result like last time."
The 20-year-old said Chris Fagan's game-plan and forward line continuity was helping the Lions score freely.
Despite winning just three games and being placed 16th on the ladder, Brisbane is ranked 11th in the AFL for scoring and has kicked 36 goals from 99 forward-50 entries in the past fortnight.
"I think we've had a forward line where we've played together for the last five or six weeks," Hipwood said.
"Understanding how Bundy (Allen Christensen) wants to hit one inside 50, just little kicks, Dan McStay rolls on to his left foot, I roll on to my left foot, just little things like that the defenders might not know and over the last five weeks we've started to pick that up.
"I think you've got to have a nice balance between defence and offence.
"I think we have a very appealing game style and it shows on the weekend, we had 21,000 (spectators) there.
"The way we're playing the game is really good and I'm certainly loving it as a forward."
