Where and when: Gabba, Saturday, May 8, 7.10pm
Head to head: Brisbane Lions 13 wins, Fremantle six wins, no draws
Last time: Fremantle 7.5 (47) lost to Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62), round 16, 2009 at Subiaco Oval

MISSING IN ACTION
Brisbane Lions
Jamie Charman (ankle) - 2-4 weeks
Xavier Clarke (knee) - indefinite
Matt Maguire (suspended) - 1 week
Daniel Merrett (hamstring) - 1 week
Justin Sherman (thigh) - test

Fremantle
Antoni Grover (knee) - test
Des Headland (knee) - eight weeks
Garrick Ibbotson (shoulder) - 2-4 weeks
Nick Suban (ankle) - test

FORM
Brisbane Lions: WWWLL
Fremantle: WWLWW

SUMMARY

For two sides building potential top-four claims, this shapes as a crucial clash. The Lions (4-2) face premiership contenders Geelong and Collingwood in two of the next three weeks, while Fremantle (5-1) takes on Collingwood and the in-form Sydney Swans.

This match is not only a chance to take four points off a fellow top-eight side, it is one of the better chances either club will have of notching a win with tough runs looming in the short-term.

It is fortunate then that Fremantle's defence is clicking and fast becoming recognised as one of the AFL's best as it prepares to face the Brisbane Lions' double-act of Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola.

Mark Harvey's back six was superb in Freo's 38-point western derby win, and it faces a Lions attack that had just five goalkickers in a 20-point loss to the Swans.

Brown (24 goals) and Fevola (21) sit in the top four for goals kicked this season, but if Chris Tarrant and Luke McPharlin can get on top of them, the Lions will need to manufacture more scoring avenues.

PLAYER TO WATCH
At 196cm, Brent Staker is a unique athlete, and last week he put his size and mobility to good use in a defensive role on Adam Goodes. Matthew Pavlich looms this week and Staker has been marked for the job. His fortunes against the Freo skipper, who has booted 24 goals this season, will shape the match.

Defender Paul Duffield was instrumental in Fremantle's round-six fightback, leading the side for handball receives and long kicks to launch continual attacks from half-back. Duffield is rapidly improving after taking his fitness to a new level in the off-season and he will demand attention from the Lions this week.

QUESTION MARKS
Are the Lions top-four material? A third consecutive loss would suggest not, but if they dispatch of an in-form Freo they are at least back in the frame.

Western derbies usually take a physical toll and there were plenty of sore players in the Freo rooms on Sunday. Can they overcome a draining clash and a short week to notch an inaugural win at the Gabba?

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Fremantle has a young group that enjoys travelling together, and it has impressed on the road this season. However, coming off a bruising western derby and with six days to recoup, the hardened Lions may be too much of a challenge. Des Headland is the only Freo player to have won at the Gabba, and after two straight losses the Lions will be desperate to keep it that way.

PREDICTION
Brisbane Lions by 18 points

Follow Scott Beveridge's inside view of Brisbane Lions v Fremantle at #afllionsfreo on Twitter.com from 2.40pm Sunday or @AFL_ScottBeveridge#afllionsfreo

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.