A week of intensive treatment may not be enough for a recuperating Brendan Fevola after Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss admitted the star forward was in doubt for Sunday's AFL clash in Adelaide.

Fevola and skipper Jonathan Brown have spent this week with an Adelaide specialist ahead of the AAMI Stadium fixture as both attempt to overcome abdominal tears.

While Voss declared Brown a "certain starter", the same could not be said for Fevola.

"Yeah, there is a bit of doubt (over Fevola)," Voss said in Brisbane on Friday.

"Brown is a certain starter. Fev is less chance than Browny.

"We are hopeful. Until he starts running around we don't know." A final word on Fevola may not be made until Saturday.

"Both Browny and Fev have the same thing, an abdominal tear, not a groin (strain) - but it's not major," Voss said.

"They are going very well, we are anticipating they will play, but we have to wait and see." Uncertainty over Fevola adds to an eventful week for Voss.

While sweating on his star duo's fitness, Voss has witnessed widespread criticism of their Gabba home ground's hard surface - one that many have linked to his high profile charges' injuries.

But Voss said on Friday: "Clubs have expressed concern (however), it's the first we have heard of it.

"Geelong made an official inquiry about the ground last week, but we work closely with (Gabba manager) Stadiums Queensland, our relationship is very sound and we are in constant contact with the curator.

"They are always trying to get water into the ground, all that.

"So I don't expect anything to be any different given what has come out in the last week or so." Voss also had a heart-to-heart with Albert Proud this week resulting in the player taking an indefinite leave of absence from the AFL club to deal with personal issues.

"He has taken voluntary leave after a conversation I had with him on Wednesday," Voss said.

"We will liaise with him quite closely, until the time is right for him to return.

"There has been something that has been going on with his family for a little while (and) we have got to make sure his welfare is taken care of."

In some positive news, ruckman Mitch Clark (groin) and defender Ash McGrath (elbow) are expected to play after being named in an extended 25-man squad for Adelaide.

Early premiership fancies the Lions have lost their lustre with four straight losses while fellow finals hopefuls Adelaide have a woeful 1-7 record.

Voss predicted a desperate clash, particularly after Adelaide's tumultuous week in which they suspended Bernie Vince, Graham Johncock and Matthew Jaensch for disciplinary breaches.

"Sometimes that can gel a team," Voss said of the suspensions.

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