WHERE & WHEN: The Gabba, Saturday June 9, 7.15pm

MEDIA COVERAGE: Channel 10 (Melbourne 7pm, Perth 6.30pm, New South Wales 7pm, Queensland 7pm), ABC Radio (Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Darwin), SEN, NIRS (Perth, Brisbane, Darwin), afl.com.au

HEAD TO HEAD: Brisbane Lions 15 wins, Western Bulldogs 20 wins

LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 22.13 (145) d Brisbane 14.19 (103), round 12, 2006 at the Gabba

TAB Sportsbet: Brisbane Lions: $1.96, Western Bulldogs: $1.78

INJURIES:
The Bulldogs are light-on for injuries following the successful return of Ryan Griffen and Jordan McMahon last weekend, and could be bolstered further by the inclusion of Robert Murphy (hamstring) and Chris Grant (groin). Both have been named as ‘tests’, and will be looked at closely before the weekend's game, although it's thought Grant will have his first hit-out for the year with Werribee.

The Lions expect to have Jed Adcock (concussion) available, and will test Chris Johnson (foot), Ashley McGrath (knee) and Haydn Kiel (hamstring). Matthew Tyler (hamstring) is a week away, while Sam Sheldon (leg) must wait 2-4 weeks and Chris Scott (hip) is indefinite. Daniel Bradshaw (knee) and Pat Garner (knee) are both out for the season.

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
The Bulldogs have a great recent record against the Lions and have won their past three encounters – two of which were at the Gabba. Before that, during the Lions' ‘three-peat’ era, the Dogs had lost six games in a row.

RECENT FORM:
The Dogs have now lost their past two – they were thumped by the Swans two weeks ago in Canberra, and last week fell short by 10 points against Carlton. With five wins and five losses, the Dogs need to recapture their winning feeling, as at 10th on the ladder, they could soon start to lose touch with the top eight if they're not careful.

The Lions were fuming on Saturday night when they blew a 19-point lead to allow the Tigers back into the contest, and the result was a frustrating draw. They are two premiership points behind the Dogs on the ladder, and have not won since round six.

RED HOT PLAYERS:
Scott West bounced back after a disappointing game in Canberra to pick up 31 touches against the Blues, while Adam Cooney and Brad Johnson (three goals) were also prolific.

Josh Drummond was best for the Lions on Saturday night, while Nigel Lappin continued to perform in the twilight of his career and Joel Patfull top scored with three goals.

THE X-FACTOR:
Jason Akermanis. The flamboyant Brownlow medallist has been named as the side's X-Factor several times, but his importance this week cannot be ignored. The former Lion will return to his old stomping ground to confront the club he left with a degree of indifference last year, and is expected to be greeted with a chorus of boos from the Brisbane crowd. It's this type of encouragement Aker needs in order to put on a trademark show.

WHAT THE FAN SAYS:
"For some reason, I noticed the disclaimer on the bottom ofmy Carltonpreview last week.  You know, something about my views not necessarilybeing those of the club blah, blah, blah... 

I must admit, it did get me wondering whether I was being a bit harsh on mybeloved boys.  

But then the game against Carltonpretty much played itself according to all my fears. And I watched theDogs trudge off the ground with their heads hung lower than I've seen in a verylong time.  And then Rocket came out and said, in his reassuringlymeasured but firm way, that some of those hung heads might need to roll beforethey are re-attached to the team. 

And so my feelings went from guilty to quite a bit depressed.  

Then, as people often do, I glanced back to the past in order to look forwardto the future.  I remembered good old Mike Brady's Up There Cazaly, a song that I so pestered my Mum to buy me when Iwas a kid that she gave me a right good, politically incorrect spanking. Before, of course, buying it for me.

There are days when you could give it up, there are days when you could fly Ithink the words go.

Yes, I could give it up.  No, we're not flying.  And yes, I couldtalk negatively about the space Aker's creating on the forward line that's notbeing exploited by his team-mates.

But maybe it's time I thought about how much better things will be when nuanceslike that are sorted out. Or maybe for once, I should just shut my neck and notespouse my backyard philosophies about the game.

Because this week, to borrow from Cazaly one last time... When the team run out or they kick a goal... there'll be analmighty roar in my lounge room. Hopefully a roar long and loud enough to helpmy team bring a whole pride of Lions to its knees." - John Skaro, Bulldog Member 2007

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.