The MCG feels like a second home and Brisbane coach Michael Voss wants his Lions to prove they belong there in Friday night's AFL semi-final against the Western Bulldogs.

Far from playing the role of visitor from interstate, Voss said the Lions were delighted to get the chance to strut on the same stage where they won three straight premierships and were keen to prove they were a genuine flag fancy.

A win over the Bulldogs will take the Lions to the penultimate weekend of the season and a clash against St Kilda in a preliminary final, but Voss said his side had not exceeded his expectations.

"Most people are genuinely talking about five teams and we're filling in the blank spot," he said on Thursday as his players filed on to the MCG for a light session.

"At the moment that's where we sit and we have to earn our right against a very good side."

Voss said neither side had an advantage playing at the home of football, but made it clear the ground had nothing but happy memories given the Lions' three premierships of 2001-03 are still relatively fresh.

"If you ask Jonathan Brown and you ask Simon Black and you ask Luke Power about the MCG, they'll almost talk about it like it's home for them because when we've come down here and played at the MCG we do have that element of home about it," he said.

"It's certainly great to be back here playing finals football and it's good to be able to be on the great stage again."

The Lions were no match for the Bulldogs just four weeks ago, but Voss said that result would have little bearing this time.

He was also confident the Lions could produce a more rounded performance in attack than in round 20, when Brown, Daniel Bradshaw and Josh Drummond provided nine of the side's 12 goals.

The Lions' firepower was on display last Saturday night in the comeback win over Carlton in the elimination final.

"We know that we need Brown and Bradshaw kicking goals for us - there's no secret there - but it's nice to have, as we've had across the whole year, have others join in on the scoreboard.

"That's what makes us dangerous, not just Brown and Bradshaw on their own.

"A few joined in last week also, they were able to pop in a few holes."

Voss declared Brown a certain starter despite the injury he suffered against the Blues when he copped a blow above the eye.

Jed Adcock and Drummond returned from injury, while veteran Tim Notting earned a recall in what could be his final game after this week announcing his pending retirement.

The Lions this week have made a point of trying to heap the pressure on the Bulldogs, who are one defeat away from suffering the indignity of bowing out of the finals with successive losses.

The Bulldogs lost their qualifying final to Geelong after being blown away in the first quarter of last Saturday's game.

But Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia rejected the Lions' attempts at mind games, and said there was pressure on both sides.

"With all due respect, it's smoke and mirrors," Fantasia said.

"When it's all said and done the planning that goes on behind the scenes and the way that you go about that, the players don't buy into those type of things."

The Bulldogs made one change to the team that lost to the Cats, as midfielder Tim Callan replaced dropped forward Josh Hill.

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