VETERAN Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin is a chance to return against Carlton on Saturday night as the Lions pursue their first minor premiership in more than a century.
Martin has missed the past nine matches with a stress fracture in his back, and cagey Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said the 33-year-old was available to play in either the seniors or reserves.
"It's one of those decision you have to make – do you give him a taste of AFL footy coming into the finals or do you go for a lower-key approach?" Fagan said.
"We've got a little more talking to do about that."
Fagan said Brisbane had played its best football with Martin and Oscar McInerney as a one-two ruck punch and he looked forward to "that combination getting back together at some point in time in the next few weeks".
SLIDING DOORS What's Damian Barrett saying about your club?
Brandon Starcevich (concussion) and Lincoln McCarthy (corked quad) are also available to play the Blues, while Jarrod Berry (shoulder) will be put in cotton wool until the finals.
Brisbane is locked into a top-two finish regardless of its final round result, but Fagan said the club was keen to chase history, having not finished on top since 1913.
He said they didn't want to flirt with form heading into October.
"If we could finish on top, we'd be rapt to do that," he said.
"We're about trying to achieve different milestones … if we could do that we'd be excited to do it."
Brisbane must win and then hope Collingwood defeats Port Adelaide in the final game of the home and away season on Monday night for that to happen.
LADDER PREDICTOR Can your team make the eight?
"We want to go into the finals in good form," Fagan said.
"That's really important to us. We had a good chat about that just now and I didn't detect any players that weren't of the same mindset as the coach.
"Last year Richmond beat us in this final game, not that we played poorly that day, but you'd rather go in with momentum if you can.
"It's not the be all and end all if you can't, but you'd rather go in with momentum."
