Brisbane Lions want to channel some of Queensland's State of Origin spirit as they look to extend a two-match winning-streak without small forward Ash McGrath against Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.
The aggressive McGrath looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring in last weekend's 61-point thrashing of Melbourne and coach Michael Voss has called for his Lions to lift against a Sydney side which has played bully in recent clashes.
The Swans belted the Lions by a combined total of 118 points in the two matches between the clubs last year and Voss knows only a complete performance can give his men a shot at redemption.
"They have been able to roll us a little bit too easily on occasions so it's about being able to maintain that Queensland spirit and going down there to do the Queenslanders proud," Voss said when questioned on the recent rivalry.
"That's (Queensland spirit) what we will be carrying down there with us.
"The Swans are probably the benchmark in the way you execute, discipline and the hunger to take the ball of the opposition, so we will need to be at our best."
McGrath, who kicked three goals before leaving the field against Melbourne last Sunday, will be replaced in the Lions' forward line by 20-year-old Patrick Karnezis.
Karnezis has been playing in the midfield in the Lions reserves but Voss is confident that he is ready to deliver as a forward in his first hit-out since Round 8.
"(Karnezis') running has been fantastic and his intensity around the ball has been fantastic so we think he is ready to go to the next step and replicate that against the Swans," Voss said.
Voss has been particularly impressed with his team's ability to generate goals in the Lions' recent run, which has them within a win of the top eight.
The triple premiership captain knows the Swans present a much stiffer test and will be looking to tall forwards Daniel Merrett and Jonathan Brown as the starting point for a Lions victory.
"(Merrett and Brown) have both been doing pretty well up-front and as a result we are getting goals from other sources," Voss said.
"The attention they are drawing is resulting in us getting goals from midfield and getting goals from small forwards, and we are getting goals from our talls.
"It makes it a hell of a lot more dangerous for opposition defences when they know someone else can pop up and kick two or three (goals)."
The Lions will also be without rising defender Mitch Golby for the match, with the AFL Rising Star nominee sidelined for up to four weeks with a stress fracture in his foot.