THE BRISBANE Lions could be without five key players for Saturday night’s second elimination final against Carlton at the Gabba.

Almost the entire spine is likely to be spectating, including Daniel Merrett (full-back) Josh Drummond (half-back) Simon Black (centre) and Daniel Bradshaw (full-forward).

Jed Adcock is also not ready to return after just one game in the reserves.

Coach Michael Voss said the above five were all less than 50 per cent chances of playing.

“If they come up then good but we’re not expecting them to,” Voss said.

“So we go and plan ahead without them there, and obviously the personnel that we put in have got a job to do against a good opposition.”

Voss believes the holes left by Black (hamstring), Drummond (quad), Bradshaw (quad) and Merrett (hamstring) can be filled by quality players, with Troy Selwood likely to slot straight back in.

Rhan Hooper, Tim Notting, Bradd Dalziell and Pearce Hanley have also been in good form in the reserves.

“The reason why we sit here this time as opposed to last year is because we’ve had more players who have been able to contribute more across the season consistently,” Voss said

“I’m extremely confident in what the players can produce, they’re taking in some fighting form, some really tough form and that’s what survives in finals.”

Matthew Leuenberger is also not ready for a return, while Voss said Black’s hamstring strain was only the “slightest of slight” strains, giving fans some glimmer of hope that the Brownlow Medallist can play.

The Lions have lost both games to Carlton this season after being overrun in one quarter and unable to peg back the lead.

In round two Carlton won by 19 points at Docklands after leading by 41 points at half time.

In round 11, at the Gabba, Carlton won by six points after leading by 34 points with Brendan Fevola booting eight goals.

Voss said stopping Chris Judd and Fevola were two of their biggest tasks if the Lions were to prevent a similar outcome on Saturday night.

“They’ve got a lot of individual players that can really elevate them,” Voss said.

“They’re one of the most efficient teams from defensive 50 to inside 50 so the actual pressure that we put on them is going to be really important.”

The Lions have never lost a final at the Gabba and after two hard fought wins in a row against Port Adelaide and the Swans Voss said there would be no excuses come Saturday night.