Simon Black is now a week-to-week proposition for the Brisbane Lions

SIMON Black is now a week-to-week proposition for the Brisbane Lions as they aim for a top eight spot.

SIMON Black is now a week to week proposition for the Brisbane Lions as they strive to close the gap between the crowded middle class and the AFL's elite teams.

Black was a last minute absentee from yesterday's crushing 47-point loss to premiership contenders the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

He aggravated the same knee injury that cost him two matches earlier in the season.

Black's unavailability might be something his teammates must grow accustomed to given the champion is into his 34th year.

The Lions must now play a waiting game over his availability to face St Kilda next weekend.

"Losing him in that circumstance was disappointing but we had a player (Claye Beams) ready to go," coach Michael Voss said.

"It's going to be a little bit week to week with him. "

Last night was a test of the Lions readiness to play finals football.

They learned title contenders must have more than just a knockout punch.

Sydney showed the Lions you must know how to absorb such a blow and retaliate.

That was the difference between the sides.

Brisbane kept pace with Sydney until the second quarter when Nick Malceski, Jarrad McVeigh and Adam Goodes all found another gear.

They also repeatedly found Sam Reid who booted a career high six goals.

"It's not great, as a defender, when that happens," Josh Drummond said.

"Under the pressure of the game we needed to take stock, slow it down and give ourselves a chance to set up.

"They upped the ante and our ability to handle that wasn't the best."

There were glimpses of hope that the Lions could match the high flying Swans.

Daniel Rich booted two cracking goals and the quality of his disposals kept the side within reach until halftime.

Drummond, Pearce Hanley, Andrew Raines and Dayne Zorko also had their moments.

But with no Matt Maguire, Brisbane had no answer to Reid's size.

"The Swans put a burst on us,'' Voss said.

"The challenge is to absorb that under pressure. The top echelon sides have patches where they want to own you.

"You've got to think through that."

Swans coach John Longmire said Reid's haul was reward for his hard work.

"The harder you work the luckier you get," Longmire said.

"He set the standard really early in the game. There were a couple of contests, particularly in the first five or six minutes, that he really put his stamp on. Once he was in that competitive frame of mind things started to go his way and he got some reward.''