The Brisbane Lions will give Carlton livewire Chris Yarran a wide berth if tempers boil over when Brendan Fevola confronts his old club on Thursday night.

Lions coach Michael Voss has made it known Yarran can handle himself in a tight spot after flooring a knife-wielding mugger in South Africa when just 16.

Voss was a coach with the AIS under-18 Academy squad, which toured the Republic in 2006, and on Wednesday recalled the West Australian product's ability with his fists.

Yarran was held up in a Cape Town market and outsmarted his attacker by reaching for his wallet with one hand before striking him with the other.

"I know he's got a good right," Voss said when asked about the Carlton forward's game.

"He got held at knife-point over in South Africa and gave a fake hand to the left and a short jab with the right and he (the mugger) was down on the deck so I know he can handle himself.

"He's a good kid."

Yarran was named the first Rising Star nomination of 2010 with three goals, 11 disposals and six tackles during the Blues' 56-point win over Richmond.

The 19-year-old indigenous player has teamed with fellow small forward Eddie Betts to give Carlton a new dimension in front of goals.

"Chris is very electrifying and he looks like he's added to his fitness," Voss said. "He's getting up the ground a lot more, he's certainly very dangerous inside our 50 and it just adds to another one of those players.

"They've got a nice little mix down there so it will be a tough job for our defenders."

While Blues discard Fevola is the talk of the town heading into his first premiership match against Carlton, former Lion Lachie Henderson is another tall forward to meet his old club at the Gabba.

Henderson was a part of the trade which saw Fevola join Brisbane and has quickly gained praise from Carlton coach Brett Ratten for his work ethic.

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