Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been left surprised by reports first-string ruckman Oscar McInerney is a week-to-week assessment due to ongoing soreness.
McInerney is coming off a limited pre-season due to shoulder surgery required late last year, with the injury putting a line through his playing prospects for the Lions' grand final win over Sydney.
The Lions big man has played eight of Brisbane's nine games in 2025, only missing a Round 3 game against Geelong due to illness.
An SEN report this week revealed McInerney had received an epidural injection earlier this year to help with his battle with soreness, with the Lions said to be relying on any report of discomfort from the ruckman.
McInerney is said to have been assessed at main trainings this year, but has so far gotten through each session unscathed.
Quizzed on the reports that McInerney may be a week-to-week assessment, Fagan was left puzzled by the suggestion, stating it's the "first I've heard of that".
"Where'd that story come from? I hadn't heard that story," Fagan told media on Saturday morning.
"He plays every game this year bar one, where he might've been ill. We've selected him this week and he trained on Thursday.
"Ruckmen get sore from time to time, they carry a heavy load. With Darcy Fort available to us, maybe across the course of the season - because both of them are in their 30s - we might need to alternate them a little bit and rest them occasionally to keep them fresh.
"But that's the first I've heard of that."
The Lions will rely on McInerney to do the "lion's share" of the ruck work against seven-time All-Australian Max Gawn on Sunday when Brisbane host Melbourne at the Gabba, with premiership tall Darcy Fort dropped for the game.
Tall forward Eric Hipwood will be used as support for McInerney in what shapes as a crucial matchup in the middle of the ground.
"Yeah more than likely, he did that a couple of weeks ago. So expect that to be the case," Fagan said of Hipwood's supporting ruck role.
"Oscar will do the lion's share of the work, as he always does.
"Eric will play a little bit more like Joey Daniher did last year, pinch-hit in the ruck occasionally."
In Fort's place, the Lions have brought in defender Keidean Coleman for his first game since Opening Round last year after an ACL injury. Coleman is joined by Conor McKenna as the inclusions for Fagan's side, with Jarrod Berry the other omission as he works through concussion protocols.
Brisbane host the Demons in the Queensland capital on Sunday at 3:20pm (AEST).
