A sickening head knock continues to take its toll on Troy Selwood.

But Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss doesn't expect the tagger to change his kamikaze ways when he finally returns.

Selwood, 25, has missed two games since his now infamous "car crash" collision with Richmond's Alex Rance at the MCG.

And Voss said Selwood was "highly doubtful" of returning against the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

"He is just going through a stage of testing," Voss said at Brisbane on Monday.

"We are obviously quite careful about head knocks and when guys have concussion.

"For his own interests it would be better if he could come back in (the reserves), get his confidence back, see the ball without the pressurised environment of the AFL."

Selwood is no stranger to head knocks in his 67-game career and there has been suggestions that he should become the first Lion since Shaun Hart to wear head gear when he returns.

But Voss didn't expect much to change when Selwood finally runs out into the AFL again.

"I am sure that the first contest Troy Selwood goes for he will put his head over the ball like he has before and do it a million times," Voss smiled.

"I think he is one of those guys who will keep going in hard."

Rance suffered a fractured cheekbone in the incident while Selwood has been unable to train since the knock.

"We are talking about a pretty serious head knock," Voss said.

"It's knocked the stuffing out of both of them and that's something you have to show a lot of respect to.

"And we want a long term performance out of Troy, not just a one off.

"So we have taken this position with him (Selwood)."

Selwood is on a worrying injury list that also includes Matthew Leuenberger (knee), Daniel Merrett (ankle), Jamie Charman (ankle) and Joel Patfull (jaw).

But Voss has little complaints about their efforts of the last month.

Since their 93-point thumping at Geelong, the Lions won three straight before letting a final term lead slip in a 16-point loss to unbeaten leaders St Kilda on Sunday.

"Over the last month there were some home truths - you are willing to do what it takes to turn it around," Voss said.

"Bit by bit we have been working on components of our game.

"It's a learning cycle. St Kilda threw something different at us and we had to adapt.

"Has there been progression (since Geelong)? Absolutely.

"Are we happy with where we are at? No, because we didn't get the result (on Sunday).

"But I am enormously proud with the way they went about it."

Voss is not expecting any let up for the Lions (6th; 5-4) from the Kangaroos (4-5), despite their 12th placing on the AFL ladder.

And rightly so - the last six matches played between the two sides have been decided by an average margin of 20 points.

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