Brisbane coach Michael Voss believes the Lions will have failed to live up to their capability if they are dumped from the AFL finals by Carlton at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Voss, who captained the Lions to their three premierships in 2001-03, says in his first year as coach he has watched the players develop a brand of football he rates good enough to win in finals.

"At the start of the year I didn't really have any expectations, other than I knew that we certainly had some strong capabilities within the group," Voss said.

"As the year goes on, you get to have a look at your group and how they handle things and pressure situations and against the very best sides.

"I think we've measured ourselves against some pretty good sides over the course of the year and we've performed and played a style of footy that I think can stand up to finals.

"When you look at that and you put all that into one pile, I think that for us to be able to play (only) one would be disappointing."

Seven of the Lions' selected 22 have played finals before, with Jonathan Brown, Simon Black and Luke Power part of all three premierships.

However, Black is in serious doubt after hurting his hamstring last round, as is running defender Josh Drummond (quad), while key position players Daniel Bradshaw and Daniel Merrett are also under clouds.

The Blues, playing their first finals series since 2001, have only two remaining veterans of that campaign, Brendan Fevola and Ryan Houlihan.

But captain Chris Judd, Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland have significant finals experience from other clubs.

Carlton have made four changes to the team thrashed by Adelaide last round, bringing in the trio of forwards suspended by the club from that game - Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Cameron Cloke - while Shaun Grigg has been recalled.

Voss said the main piece of advice he had given players experiencing finals for the first time was to try to put aside the fact that the result of the match determined their season.

"We know what the (potential) result is, we're in an elimination final, win you go on, lose you go out, it's as simple as that. So for us it can't be about the scoreboard, it's got to be about living in the moment."

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