BRISBANE Lion Luke Power must feel pretty comfortable in his relationship with coach Leigh Matthews.

Some time ago, Power made the observation that teammate Travis Johnstone had become Matthews' 'love child' – a claim the notoriously intimidating legend of the game refutes.

"I can assure you, he is not my love child," Matthews said to laughter on Friday.

Power's off-the-cuff remark was in response to Matthews' attitude to Johnstone turning around his form in the weeks after he claimed the former Demon needed to lift.

"I said 'I think he can play better than he's playing', and he is playing better than he was playing. That's all, nothing complex about that.

"Travis is going well. He's had two or three really good (games). Last week, he was exceptionally good."

Matthews was speaking ahead of the Lions’ crucial clash with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday, and admitted that the venue generated excitement among a playing group that rarely has the chance to step out on the home of football.

"The 'G is the big venue in the country," he said.

"We've played well there, fortunately – I mean, not only a few years ago. Last year, we had a terrific game there against Collingwood. We were pretty competitive against Hawthorn in the middle of the year.

"I think we go the MCG with quite good vibes as a group."