WET weather forced the cancellation of the Brisbane Lions' crucial hit-out before next weekend's NAB Cup opener but nothing could dampen co-captain Jonathan Brown's enthusiasm.

The Lions' first competitive match for 2008 - an intra-club match at their Coorparoo training ground - was called off due to a water-logged field.

It denied Brown a chance to play his first pre-season intra-club match in six years and robbed emerging Lions a chance to play for spots in their February 16 NAB Cup showdown against Essendon on the Gold Coast.

However, Brown couldn't hide his excitement.

And no wonder. He is tackling his first full pre-season in years after overcoming niggling injuries.

He believes the Lions' midfield is "one of the best in the competition" following the addition of former Melbourne Demon Travis Johnstone.

And he looks forward to kicking more than his 2007 Coleman Medal-winning 77-goal haul thanks to the long awaited return of key forward Daniel Bradshaw from a knee reconstruction.

Brown put his hand up to play the intra-club game despite the Lions' lousy luck with pre-season games.

Bradshaw, Nigel Lappin and Richard Hadley have been among the big names who have suffered serious injuries in recent years for the Lions in pre-season clashes.

But Brown was disappointed that he had missed a timely hit-out before the NAB Cup.

"It is always good to get the first one out of the way. I will have to go into the first game against Essendon with no game under the belt but we have done a lot of match practice-type work at training," he said.

In a worry for rivals, Brown said he was in the best shape in some time.

"I am physically feeling really good, no hiccups. I will go into 2008 in better shape than I have in years," he said.

"I am excited because I have come off a full year.

"I have had a good pre-season and it's also exciting knowing that we've got a pretty good (player) list, you go into the year confident that we can be a pretty good side."

Brown didn't know what to be more excited about - the return of Bradshaw or the arrival of Johnstone.

"I've always thought it is easier to kick goals having Braddy down there," he said.

"It helps spread the load a bit and hopefully Braddy can come back and win a Coleman of his own."

And on Johnstone, Brown added: "Having Travis Johnstone come into the mix is sensational.

"Our midfield rates up there with one of the best in the competition.

"It will be difficult for oppositions to match up with our midfield which hopefully means a lot of supply for our forwards."

The Lions leave for a community camp in Townsville today.