Gold Coast Suns not convinced Lions veteran Simon Black will miss Q-clash

GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna will prepare to take on Brisbane's best AFL line-up in tomorrow's derby despite the Lions leaving out Simon Black.

GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna will prepare to take on Brisbane's best AFL line-up in tomorrow's derby despite the Lions leaving out Simon Black.

The veteran midfielder was not named by Lions coach Michael Voss for the sixth meeting between the south-east Queensland rivals.

Black is out with a groin injury but McKenna isn't sure whether the club's ``big brother'' is trying to pull a fast one on the Suns.

He doubts Black's injury will prevent the triple premiership player taking to the field at the Gabba.

``If you come off with an ice bag or anything around your hamstring or groin ... yeah, there's a chance you won't play the following week,'' McKenna said.

``When blokes walk off the ground okay? Yeah, there can be training mishaps ... you can read into it what you like but we're going to go in thinking that they're going to pick their best side.''

McKenna has a few players missing from his own line-up that would prove handy as the Suns seek just their second win against the Lions.

Harley Bennell and Luke Russell will return for the visitors on Saturday but Karmichael Hunt is out with an injured calf, joining key players such as Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch on the sidelines.

McKenna said he wasn't sure if his team was respected by their northern neighbours, but drew on his own playing days with West Coast to give a picture of what the Lions might be thinking.

``In Western Australia we were 13-zip I think against Fremantle and they didn't have my respect,'' he said.

``They did when they beat us.``For whatever reason we got up and knocked big brother off in our very first game. Whether they didn't respect us that game and whether they've since respected us, I don't know.''