Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko put his tweaked hamstring to the test at the Gabba on Tuesday after scans cleared the AFL midfielder of serious injury.
The Lions host the rock bottom Gold Coast on Saturday with a big win a crucial boost for a side equal top on premiership points but third on percentage.
Coach Chris Fagan said after Sunday’s win over the Western Bulldogs that Zorko would likely miss the QClash after encountering what was later determined to be hamstring tightness and spending most of the second half icing his leg on the bench.
But the in-form captain ran strongly away from the main group on Tuesday and will only need to pass a fitness test to ensure his remarkable run of health – he’s missed just four games in a 163-game career – continues.
Brisbane’s lead was slashed from 43 to 17 by the Bulldogs in the minutes after Zorko’s exit and, while it was deemed a coincidence by Fagan, the former All-Australian contender’s inclusion would be a boost as they incredibly eye a minor premiership.
The Lions are on a seven-match winning streak with contests against the Suns, leaders Geelong at the Gabba next weekend and then Richmond at the MCG before their first finals foray since 2009.
Gold Coast have suffered heavy losses to Richmond, Adelaide and Collingwood but pushed Essendon and Carlton in recent weeks.
Players like Noah Answerth, fresh off a AFL Rising Star nomination on Monday, are ensuring there will be no complacency.
Overcoming a fractured back in 2017 to earn his shot at the big time, Answerth has been one of many Lions to impress this year in what he says is a positive sign if the skipper is missing this weekend.
“Three years ago I never thought I’d be standing here in a press conference for a Rising Star nomination … I never thought I’d get this far,” the 20-year-old defender said.
“We’ve talked about it (the side’s rise) a little bit from, where they’ve come from I’ve been lucky enough to jump on the back end of it.
“It’s a really good place to be at the moment but it’s good to have Richy (Daniel Rich) and Zorks, who’ve been through the hard times, to let you know about it and it keeps you grounded.”