Battling Brisbane continued its changing of the guard on Thursday night, axing four-time premiership player Martin Pike as it attempts to salvage an AFL season on the precipice.

Last season's grand finalist and the decade's dominant club has slumped to 11th with just three wins in eight matches and needs a victory over Richmond at the Gabba on Saturday night to stay in touch with the top eight.

And it will attempt to do so without Pike - the 32-year-old banished to the emergencies and staring down the barrel of his first reserves game since late 2001 unless there is a late withdrawal.

Pike, a premiership player with the Kangaroos before being an integral part of Brisbane's three-peat, has played the past 37 matches for the Lions.

He last missed a match in round 22, 2003, when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury before returning for Brisbane's successful finals campaign.

Luke Power, who broke his hand last weekend, and Matthew Moody (omitted) will also miss the Richmond match.

Daniel Bradshaw, Joel Macdonald and Anthony Corrie all return as the Lions look to put back-to-back wins together for the first time in 2005 after beating Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last weekend.

Bradshaw has been named at full forward - his first hitout in a month after calf and back problems.

Richmond midfielder Chris Hyde, who fractured his skull four weeks ago in a sickening clash with St Kilda's Matt Maguire, returns for the Tigers along with Greg Stafford (ankle).

St Kilda will bring back defenders Aussie Jones and Luke Penny from injury as it attempts to arrest a two-match losing streak in its clash with Adelaide at Telstra Dome on Friday night.

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