Itching for finals footy since 2004, Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has vowed to take his frustration out on Carlton in Saturday night's knockout AFL clash at the Gabba.

And the Lions will need Brown to be at his inspirational best after an injury crisis threatened to sabotage their first finals campaign in five years.

Brown had grown to dread the finals as he struggled to come to terms with the Lions' golden run ending in 2004.

While he is clearly relishing the Lions' first taste of September action since their grand final heartache five years ago, a lengthening injury list threatens to take the gloss off their achievement.

In a nightmare scenario, key players Simon Black (hamstring), Jed Adcock (knee), Daniel Merrett (hamstring), Daniel Bradshaw (quad) and Josh Drummond (quad) are rated "unlikely to play".

Black and Drummond went down in the Lions' gutsy last round win at Sydney while Merrett, Bradshaw and Adcock remain on the injury list.

It's a big blow, but Brown has vowed to draw on the years in the AFL wilderness when he leads the Lions out against the Blues.

"Watching the finals the last four years it has hurt more and more," Brown said at Brisbane on Monday.

"You almost thought it was your right to be out there playing in finals and grand finals.

"I have quickly learned that is not the case.

"I am glad that I can get back out there and show some of my frustration on the weekend."

By the age of 23, Brown had won three premierships and been in four grand finals.

"As I have got older I have appreciated the success more, how hard it was to get to that," Brown said.

"I had nothing to compare it with.

"I have understood the club has had to rebuild, that has dampened my frustration a little bit - I have tried to be a key part of that.

"I am thrilled with my achievements so far but now is when I want to be playing my best footy...in these types of games (finals)."

Brown said there was a feeling of "unfinished business" when he assembled his troops after they secured a home final with the SCG victory over the Swans.

"I just told the boys to enjoy it - now a new season begins," he said.

"And I am impressed with the players.

"There's not a feeling that we are just rapt to make the top eight.

"We want to use this advantage of a home final and forge ahead."

Injuries are nothing new to the luckless Lions this season - and the latest bad news hardly fazed Brisbane, even with Brownlow Medalist Black on the list.

"Simon is a quality player but I think the strength of this group is that we have got everyone involved," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"That's maybe why we have been able to cover injuries this season - it doesn't take one person to get us over the line any more."

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