One of the most critical elements an AFL club needs as it prepares for a tilt at the flag is fitness across its playing list.
It appears on that front, the Brisbane Lions are set to get some key pieces back on the pitch at just the right time.
The reigning premiers had a shaky stretch late in the season, losing two out of three games from rounds 20-22, before finishing the year with victories over Fremantle and Hawthorn.
Days out from the Lions' huge Friday night qualifying final against the Cats the MCG, veteran Dayne Zorko gave a promising update on injured stars Lachie Neale (quad), Jarrod Berry (shoulder), Oscar McInerney (back) and Eric Hipwood (calf).
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Neale, who has missed the club's last three games, and Berry are both available to play this week, according to Brisbane's latest injury update.
“They’re going well,” Zorko told SENQ Breakfast. “I’m very confident Lachie will be playing (this week).
"Jarrod still has a few things he needs to tick off in regards to his shoulder.”
McInerney has been managing back tightness and playing well at VFL level in recent weeks, while Hipwood could be ready to return over the next fortnight.
“(McInerney) pulled up really well after the weekend’s game, he played really, really well," Zorko said of the hard luck story from last year's premiership.
"He still gets that back tightness and soreness, but whether or not that would keep him out of a final, probably unlikely.
“(Hipwood is) going well. He’s been running the last few weeks, which is a really good sign.
“He’s progressing in what he’s been able to do. He’s looking really good.
"I know he’s really stubborn, so he’s going to be trying his absolute hardest to be right for whether it’s next week or the week after.”
The Lions have even more incentive in their huge clash with Geelong, with the victor on Friday night earning a home preliminary final and a week off to help those sore bodies.