Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews says his team has kept its self-belief as it tries to win its third-straight AFL premiership.

The Lions will start favourites in tonight's preliminary final against Sydney, which has been the surprise of the season.

The Lions faltered towards the end of the home-and-away season, but after losing their qualifying final to Collingwood they dominated last Friday's semi-final against Adelaide.

Matthews says his team is well-placed going into tonight's game, even with the well-documented knee problems of captain Michael Voss.

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