It wouldn’t surprise Brisbane if Johnathan Brown “did a Robert Harvey” in a bid to return this season, but Michael Voss is confident his injured co-captain will take a less extreme route to a 15th AFL campaign in 2014.

Brown has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot – the same injury St Kilda great Harvey had when, as AFL folklore has it, he repeatedly jumped from his dining room table attempting to completely snap the weakened fibrous tissue, seeking a quicker recovery.

A rupture was what the Lions were hoping scans would reveal on Tuesday for the same reason, but their co-captain’s rehabilitation will be longer due to a partial tear.

“It’s one of those unusual injuries where a rupture is better than a partial so we’ve just got to wait for the area to settle down,” said Voss.

It will take a fortnight before the club’s medics decide on a course of action, but Brown’s season is considered over.

Off contract this year and yet to commit to 2014, Voss wouldn’t rule out the fearless veteran, who has overcome three horrific facial injuries and been hit by a car while cycling in the past three years, following Harvey’s lead.

“Anything is possible with Jonathan Brown,” he said. “I mean this bloke takes on cars.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he had some kind of plan like that in mind.

“But no, I think he’ll be quite sensible about it.”

While Brown turns 32 in October, Voss doubted Saturday’s clash with Richmond would be the Lions’ start to life without their inspirational spearhead.

He felt fears that Brown had played his 245th and last AFL game had been flamed because of his conviction to wait until post-season before deciding his future.

“What I’ve communicated to Browny is he’s required,” he said.

“Any discussion I’ve had with him he’s in a good frame of mind, (and) really positive about the direction of the team.

“From initial chats that we’ve had it’s all been quite positive.”

Jordan Lisle and Stefan Martin are the prime contenders to replace triple-premiership winner Brown in the Lions’ forward line at the MCG, with Voss pleased by their form in the reserves.

Midfield leaders Simon Black (groin) and Brent Moloney (hamstring) are chances to return from injury against the in-form Tigers’ impressive on-ball division.

The Lions will be without rebounding defender Mitch Golby due to a one-week suspension for striking St Kilda’s Tom Curren in Saturday night’s 31-point win at the Gabba.