The Brisbane Lions will welcome back much-loved forward Lincoln McCarthy after almost two years out with injuries while making five forced changes for their AFL clash with Sydney.
The reigning premiers were stung by losing important trio Harris Andrews (three matches), Darcy Gardiner (one) and Zac Bailey (one) to suspensions out of the season-opening defeat to the Western Bulldogs.
Hugh McCluggage went down with a calf strain and the Lions were dealt a further blow when young key forward Logan Morris, who kicked three goals against the Dogs, was ruled out of Saturday night’s trip to the SCG with a fractured hand.