BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss has revealed a tough side to Carlton forward Chris Yarran as he prepares for an Easter Thursday night blockbuster against the Blues at the Gabba.

Yarran scored three goals in Carlton's first-round 56-point win over Richmond, but Voss already knew he never takes a backward step after the teenager confronted a mugger while touring South Africa with the AIS/AFL Academy squad in 2007.

Voss was an assistant coach on the tour and recalled that Yarran had a knife held to his throat in a crowded Cape Town market place, with the would-be bandit demanding his wallet.

"I know he has got a good right," Voss said.

"He got held at knife point and gave the fake hand to the left (pretending to reach for his wallet) and short jab to the right.

"He (the mugger) was down on the deck, so I know he can handle himself."

Still only 19, Yarran is one of the new breed of Carlton small forwards Voss needs to try to contain since the departure of Brendan Fevola to the Lions.

"Chris is very electrifying and he looks like he's added a lot to his fitness," Voss said.

"He's getting up the ground a lot more, he's certainly very dangerous inside 50."

The Lions will name vice-captain Jed Adcock in their side after he passed a fitness test on his twisted ankle on Wednesday morning.

Voss said Adcock would be a welcome inclusion to the side for "his leadership capabilities and his voice.

"And he can also take another dangerous match up for us, so being able to have him there is pretty important."

Voss said the excitement of playing an Easter Thursday night blockbuster against Carlton was irrelevant to the players - their focus was on getting early points on the board.

"For us it's a footy game and there is four points on hand. I see no more critical stage than early in the season when you're trying to get your head above water."