Lions coach Chris Fagan calls on fit-again stars to justify their return to Brisbane’s top 22

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says history will count for nothing in Saturday night’s QClash at the Gabba.

Skipper Dayne Zorko will return for the Brisbane Lions this weekend. Picture: Russell Freeman / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Lions coach Chris Fagan has put the onus on his returning stars to perform in Saturday night’s QClash, suggesting players dropped from the side which beat the Giants didn’t deserve to be axed.

Brisbane will welcome back skipper Dayne Zorko, defenders Daniel Rich and Marcus Adams, midfielder Jarrod Berry and ruckman Oscar McInerney for the Gabba battle with the Gold Coast Suns.

And while the quintet are automatic selections in the Lions’ 22, Fagan demanded they deliver to justify his reasons for omitting a group of players including particularly unlucky trio Darcy Fort, Nakia Cockatoo and Jack Payne.

“They’ve got a responsibility to play well,” the Brisbane coach said.

“Some guys last week played particularly well against the Giants and they’ve lost their spots.

“That’s what you need if you want to be a successful team. You’ve got to have people that come in and play roles when others are out,

“That’ll be the expectation of them (against the Suns), to come in and play their roles.”

Dayne Zorko is among a host of Lions stars returning for the QClash. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Also missing from the team which beat the Giants is the in-form Keidean Coleman, who has succumbed to a hamstring injury.

“He had some hamstring soreness late in the game last week,” Fagan said.

“There’s a little bit of fluid there on the scan. It’s not much, but bad enough for myself and our medical people to say we’re not going to risk him.

“We took the same approach with the soft tissue boys last week and we want to take the same approach with him.

“He’s had a great year and it is a pity, but that’s footy – there are injured players every week.

“We’ve just got to pick the next bloke and move on.”

The Lions have dominated recent QClash matches, having won their past seven matches against the Suns.

Another Brisbane win on Saturday night would all but end Gold Coast’s chances of playing finals football for the first time.

“They’re at a time in their history where they’re having their best season ever,” Fagan said of the Suns.

“They need to win (on Saturday night) to try to keep their finals hopes alive, and we need to win to make sure we finish in the finals and finish as high as we can, so there’s a lot at stake.

“It’s a different contest altogether to the previous ones. We spend no time sitting around talking about our record against the Gold Coast Suns.

“All that matters is the here and now.”

Fagan said it was important for Australian rules football in Queensland for both the Lions and the Suns to be strong.

“It’s what all states want,” he said.

“Adelaide’s always better when the Crows and Port are going well, and it’s the same over in Perth (with West Coast and Fremantle), so it’s no different here.”