BRISBANE Lions captain Jonathan Brown is likely to play his first game of 2009 against Melbourne in the NAB Challenge match at Cairns this Friday night.

Brown has been given extra time off to prepare for the Lions' campaign as he recovers from off-season hip surgery, but injured midfielder Simon Black said his captain is looking strong on the track and he can’t see any reason why coach Michael Voss won’t name the 27-year-old spearhead to take on the Demons.

"He's been out with the main group for two or three weeks and he's starting to look like he's getting his bounce back, which is really good,” Black said on Tuesday night.

“They were really slow with his hip operation over the summer to make sure he gets enough miles under his legs, but as far as I know he's up to that level now and he's achieved what he needs to as far as fitness levels are concerned.

“Now it's just a case of throwing him out there to play a game,” said the Lions veteran, who will be out until round one with a broken wrist.

Brown’s inclusion would be a significant boost for a Lions outfit that defeated St Kilda in round one of the NAB Cup on the Gold Coast and went within two points of upsetting Essendon on Saturday, despite the absence of a raft of big names.

Brown, Black, Jamie Charman, Luke Power, Jared Brennan, Daniel Merrett, Travis Johnstone and Michael Rischitelli all missed the match against the Bombers and, as the big names gradually return, competition for places will be fierce.

Rising midfield prospect Cheynee Stiller says cracking into the side for the round-one clash against West Coast will be far from easy.

“The competition for spots is right on so you’re really going to have to be on your game all year,” Stiller said on Tuesday in Brisbane.

“We had few blokes miss out last week in NAB Cup and I don’t think that’s happened for a few years, we’ve normally been scrounging up numbers to play.”

Stiller says despite the high-profile absences, the Lions' list is actually much healthier than it’s been for some time.

“Our main problem in the last few years has been injuries, and we’re coming into the season with a pretty fresh looking line-up so hopefully we can carry that through the season,” Stiller said.

After a long, hot pre season, the Lions are well prepared for the tough conditions expected in Cairns for Friday’s NAB Challenge showdown with the Demons.

The approach will be the same as the first two pre-season games; getting used to a new playing style under Michael Voss involving more aggression and quick hands.

“[There's been] a lot more ball-in-hand stuff in the pre season and working on a new game plan [and] that’s slowly coming along,” Stiller said.

“Since 2004 the Lions haven’t played finals so we want to play finals footy and we want to be an elite team so change has got to happen and that’s what’s happened this year.”

One of the changes might also have to be accuracy in front of goal. The Lions booted 2.8 in the final quarter against Essendon, to the Bombers' 3.3.

Stiller said they just need to get used to slotting important goals in games.

“You can’t put yourself under that pressure during pre-season so, once you get in a game, it’s the only time you can practice that sort of thing.”