Cool and possibly wet conditions have been forecast for the Hawks clash – weather that won't faze up-and-coming midfielder Albert Proud.

The nuggety Proud is well known for his in-and-under play and has already played at the notoriously cold Kardinia Park twice in his six-game career.

"It's funny, I moved up to Queensland a few years ago to get away from the cold – then I've played almost all of my AFL games when it's been freezing," Proud said.

"I might have to buy myself some more tracksuit pants, but I'm sure I'll cope okay!"

Hawthorn has named an unchanged side for the match, which will be Shane Crawford's 300th at AFL level.

Brisbane Lions
B: Josh Drummond, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Justin Sherman, Jason Roe, Ashley McGrath
C: Bradd Dalziell, Simon Black, Jed Adcock
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Jared Brennan
F: Rhan Hooper, Daniel Bradshaw, Albert Proud
Foll: Jamie Charman, Luke Power, Travis Johnstone
I/C: Colm Begley, Tim Notting, James Hawksley, Lachlan Henderson
EMG: Robert Copeland, Tom Collier, Scott Clouston

Hawthorn
B: Campbell Brown, Stephen Gilham, Brent Guerra
HB: Rick Ladson, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HF: Shane Crawford, Lance Franklin, Chance Bateman
F: Mark Williams, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
Foll: Robert Campbell, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Stuart Dew, Thomas Murphy, Simon Taylor, Cameron Stokes
EMG: Beau Dowler, Jarryd Morton, Travis Tuck

On the punt:

The Lions are likely to start this one as pronounced underdogs, with early markets having them at $4.50 in head-to-head betting (compared to Hawthorn's very skinny $1.18).

Hawthorn's four losses this year have come by 32, 27, 30 and 11 points, so the $5 about the Lions winning by 39 points or less could prove enticing. After four defeats in their past five games, the Lions are now listed at $2.10 to make the top eight.

In Brownlow betting, reigning medallist Jimmy Bartel has firmed to $3.50 second favourite behind teammate Gary Ablett. Having missed the last three games with injury, Ablett will return to action this week.

Key match-up:

Jason Roe (Lions) v Lance Franklin (Hawthorn): Mobile defender Roe has been named to start on Franklin and that could well be the way the two sides line up, with Joel Patfull and Daniel Merrett also candidates to stand the competition's leading goal-kicker. Whoever gets the job, the assignment will be simple in theory but exceptionally difficult to put into practice – stick with "Buddy" on the lead, force him into contested marking situations and stop him mopping up at ground level, as he did so successfully last week against Collingwood.


Odds and sods:

With 14 winning last quarters, the Hawks are best in the competition over the final 30 minutes of a game. The Lions, meanwhile, will be keen to improve on their five winning final terms. A table of total quarters won for the year actually provides an interesting companion to the league ladder. Geelong is the runaway leader on 52, with fellow top-four sides Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Sydney (43, 44 and 44) well ahead of the chasing pack. Sides five to 14 have all won between 31 and 39 quarters. Fremantle (13th) has won 33 quarters, one more than seventh-placed St Kilda.

Buddy Franklin's 85 goals would have him in the good books of Hawthorn fans, but his style of play hasn't necessarily been appreciated by the umpires. Franklin has conceded a league-high 53 free kicks to date. To put that in perspective, Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw have accumulated only 24 – between them! Throw in Franklin's sidekick Jarryd Roughead and it's the Lions key forwards with 34 free kicks received and the Hawks with 32 (and 64 against).

Expect to see plenty of the Lions' Simon Black and Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell under the packs on Saturday afternoon. Black leads the Lions' clearance count with 96 for the year – well in advance of Luke Power (62). Mitchell leads the competition with 100 and has Brad Sewell (62) as his closest teammate.