LIFE as an AFL player doesn't get any easier week-to-week for Daniel Merrett, but the young Brisbane Lions full-back says he wouldn't have it any other way.

Having just kept St Kilda's ace forward Fraser Gehrig goalless and to only six possessions in Easter Thursday's 52-point Lions victory, Merrett was turning this thoughts to a renewal of acquaintances with Barry Hall and the Swans on Sunday week.

And it was with eager anticipation, rather than anxiousness, that he regarded the awaiting challenge.

"I actually look forward to the challenge every week and I'm thriving on it," Merrett explained.

"I get excited to know I'm taking the opposition's best forward and I'm really pumped on game days to do it.

"It's no good doubting yourself - you have to back yourself."

Merrett already has one personal victory to his credit over Hall, having outpointed the Sydney spearhead in Round 21 of last year. That match represented something of a watershed moment for the 22-year-old, who was a latecomer to AFL and had previously battled to nail down a spot in the Lions forward line, where he admitted to feeling some pressure.

"It was a little bit frustrating when I was playing up forward and you looked at Bradshaw and Brown - you were never going to knock those guys out of their positions because they are guns," Merrett said.

"It was a little bit frustrating being in and out of the team so it is satisfying to find a niche and have a role and play every week. The move down back was firstly done in reserves and I kind of felt like a duck to water - it's been great."

Last year Mal Michael was around to help out with some on-field tuition and in 2007 Merrett has the know-how of Justin Leppitsch to call upon, with the former All-Australian defender joining the Lions coaching staff.

Merrett was also quick to pay tribute to the club's sprint program and the Lions' midfielders and forwards, who he said made his job easier by applying pressure up the ground.

"I was always quickish but I think since getting to the club and doing the sprint work with a guy named Cliff Mallet, I've improved," he said.

"Getting my speed right up there has meant I can close those extra couple of metres when otherwise I might be out of the contest.

"Probably half the reason why the defence is doing so well has been the pressure the forwards and midfield are putting on the opposition. It's not coming down lace-out and they are under pressure when they are kicking it in. So 'ups' to the midfield and forwards because otherwise our job would be a lot harder."

That said, Merrett realises that there will come a match when an opponent gets the better of him. All he can do, he says, is make sure that forward is made to earn it.

"Leppa has talked to me about that. The day will happen when I get eight kicked on me," Merrett said.

"But as long as I'm trying and not giving up and I'm making them work for marks, that's the most important thing. It's like the NAB Cup Final against Brendan Fevola - he took some good grabs but I felt I made him earn his marks and that's all I can do."