Losing is never fun but Brisbane Lions vice-captain Luke Power has talked up the benefits of his team's 93-point AFL thrashing at Geelong, describing it as the defeat "we really needed to have".

All the ingredients were there for a miserable stay at Skilled Stadium that fateful day - freezing gales, heavy rain and a red-hot Gary Ablett.

But Brisbane have been feeling no pain since then - racking up three straight wins to crack the top five.

And Power reckons that is all thanks to the football lesson given by the Cats.

It has also steeled the Lions ahead of their biggest test since the Geelong debacle - unbeaten leaders St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

"We put into practice a lot of things we learnt from that game. It was a loss I guess we really needed to have," Power told AAP.

"You are going to have those losses at times. But the thing is how do you respond - do you learn from it or just say `we were unlucky'?

"You can see our results of the last three weeks what we have learned from it.

"We will go down there and have a real crack at them (Saints)."

Easier said than done while missing key defenders Daniel Merrett (ankle) and Joel Patfull (broken jaw).

The pair were told this week they would be out for at least a month after going down in last round's 36-point win over Adelaide at the Gabba.

Power didn't try to sugar coat their absence, all but describing them as irreplaceable.

"They are a massive blow, they are our best key defenders," he said.

"You can't replace them easily but hopefully some younger players come in and become good players for us not only for this game but for years to come.

The Lions' new-look defence will be under pressure to contain the Saints twin towers Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke.

But Power said the onus would be on the Lions midfield.

"There's definitely a lot of goalscoring power there for them (Saints)," he said.

"But the important thing is cutting down the supply.

"They have a very good midfield. So it will be our midfield's responsibility to hopefully cut down supply, make sure when the ball is coming in it is coming in long and high."

For the moment though Power is just enjoying their promising season start under new coach and his former teammate Michael Voss.

At 5-3, the Lions are well placed to break into the finals for the first time since 2004 - the year they played their fourth straight season decider.

Power won three flags with Voss but has endured some lean years as the Lions rebuild.

"It's pleasing to be able to look at the top half of the ladder and find your name, rather than down the bottom," Power laughed.

"It's a good reward for some hard work.

"But to be the best you have to compete well against the best, if we want to get to a higher level that's what we have to do on Sunday."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP