Michael Voss has rated Saturday night's big-stage clash with Collingwood his rising Lions' biggest of the year as they hunt for an AFL top-four berth.

Voss on Monday admitted Saturday night's MCG encounter would have a massive bearing on the rest of Brisbane's season.

The Lions (11-6) enter the round 18 match in sixth place but equal on 44 points with the fourth-placed Magpies.

But it's not just the result which Voss believes will determine their top-four hopes or confidence as possible premiership contenders.

With the club not featuring in finals action since 2004 and containing a host of youngsters, how Brisbane handle the occasion will be a major barometer.

"How we deal with the pressure has a big say in where we want to finish so it becomes a critical game," Voss said.

"There's no bigger for us this year than being able to play this particular game - Collingwood at the MCG with the stakes and positions on the ladder - all those external factors in what a game entails.

"Now it's about being able to prepare for that, being able to go out and survive that, and play the way you want to play."

The match between the 2002 and 2003 grand final combatants is also significant from a Brisbane perspective for being vice-captain Simon Black's 250th senior game.

While Black is a triple premiership player, Brownlow Medallist, Norm Smith Medallist and three-time club champion, Voss claimed he still didn't receive the kudos he deserves.

"I think throughout his whole career he's been probably fairly underrated and that's a guy who's been fairly highly rated," he said of the player that also has three second placings in the Brownlow to go with his 2002 medal.

"I think the umpires in this instance have got it right.

"He just gets on with doing the business.

"While he's got that list of achievements, it's a good CV, he doesn't think about it. He just goes and does it."

Brisbane head to Melbourne on the back of a comfortable 41-point success over North Melbourne, and looking to make amends for a "lost opportunity" against the Magpies in round four when overrun at the Gabba.

Utility Tom Collier (knee) is rated a 50-50 chance of overcoming injury while stalwart Tim Notting is facing a one-match striking ban.

Voss is enthused by the battle between his maturing defensive unit, led by vice-captain Daniel Merrett, and the Magpies exciting forwards.

"They're definite X-factors," he said of Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst, Leon Davis and Dale Thomas.

"On their night, on their terms, with the ball going their way they can be very, very dangerous.

"The big thing that has evolved for us over that time is our defence which has become settled and we've been pretty hard to score against."

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