Where and when: Skilled Stadium, Saturday, July 24, 2.10pm AEST
Head to head: Geelong 18 wins, Brisbane Lions 17 wins, one draw
Last time: Geelong 24.11 (155) d Brisbane Lions 10.14 (74), round eight, 2010 at the Gabba
MISSING IN ACTION
Geelong
Mitch Brown (shoulder) - season
Marcus Drum (achilles) - test
Steve Johnson (hand) - test
Darren Milburn (soreness) - test
Max Rooke (knee) - indefinite
Jess Stringer (hip) - season
Adam Varcoe (knee) - season
Brisbane Lions
Jed Adcock (foot) - 2 weeks
Matt Austin (leg) - season
Donald Barry (sinus) - season
Callum Bartlett (knee) - season
Simon Black (ankle) - test
Jamie Charman (ankle) - season
Josh Drummond (knee) - 4 weeks
Mitch Golby (knee) - season
Andrew Raines (quad) - 1-2 weeks
Troy Selwood (glute) - TBC
FORM
Geelong: WLWWL
Brisbane Lions: LLLLL
SUMMARY
Based on recent form and previous results between the two sides, this clash could get extremely ugly.
Earlier this year, the Cats thumped the Lions by 81 points, but that game was played up at the Gabba, where the Lions are usually at least competitive.
This time around, Michael Voss' side is mired in an extraordinary slump - a fall from grace that's seen it lose 11 of its past 12 games.
Making matters worse for the injury-hit Lions, they're coming up against a Geelong side stung by a last-start defeat at the hands of Adelaide.
Taking all that into account, it's hard to imagine the Cats winning by any less than 10 goals.
And if Gary Ablett can break out of his mid-season slump and recapture his best form, the margin could easily blow out towards three figures.
PLAYER TO WATCH
With the speculation about a potential move to Gold Coast refusing to die down, Geelong star Gary Ablett has appeared distracted and irritable during recent games. Last round against the Crows, he had only 19 possessions, which was well below his usual output.
Matthew Leuenberger has been one of few shining lights for the Lions in what has been a very ordinary season. The young ruckman was his team's best player last weekend against Hawthorn, although coming up against Mark Blake and Brad Ottens will be a tougher assignment.
QUESTION MARKS
Is Geelong on the slide? The Cats have lost two of their past four games and last weekend against the Crows they managed only 42 inside 50s, their lowest tally of the season.
Will the Lions win another game this year? Fixtures against Melbourne and Essendon in the final five weeks give them a chance, but the way they've been going it looks unlikely.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Quite simply, the Cats have better players, who are in better form. After slipping to second on the ladder behind Collingwood, they also have much more to play for.
Chat with host Mark Conway and other fans in the AFL Match Centre onafl.com.au from 1.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflcatslions
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
