It's getting towards desperation stakes at Brisbane but Michael Voss has warned his struggling Lions against desperate acts against Richmond.

Voss on Friday urged his players and officials to keep their heads following a horror run which has seen them rack up seven losses in the last eight weeks.

While the Lions have three more wins than the Tigers going into the AFL's split round, Richmond will line up at the Gabba on Saturday night as the form team of the two.

The visitors are coming off a big win over West Coast while Brisbane capitulated against the Western Bulldogs, falling by 65 points.

Their inept final-quarter display at Etihad Stadium prompted a harsh dressing down from Voss who believed his already-beaten outfit rolled over.

"It's not a nice thing to hear at any stage but I thought we quit," the coach said.

"That's something that as a club we've got to be better than."

Despite his aggravation, Voss has kept faith with the same 22 players in a bid to gain some much-needed continuity and bed down new combinations.

The month-long loss of skipper Jonathan Brown (abdominal strain) takes the number of first-choice players recovering on the sidelines to eight.

Voss has called for much more effort from his troops, but doesn't want to see them throw the kitchen sink at Richmond and also lose composure.

"It's important we don't become desperate," he said. "If you put desperation into it you can get desperate acts in the wrong way.

"So that's something we have to become mindful of, that's for sure.

"While we acknowledge the effort was not good enough by them coming back here and make a reprieve is pretty important and they have shown a willingness to do that."

Former Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola will play his 200th match relieved he's stayed fit and disciplined enough to line up in all 12 matches for his new club this season.

One week out of action would have seen Fevola notch his milestone to a chorus of "boos" from his old fans as the Lions meet the Blues in their next match on Thursday week in Melbourne.

Mitch Clark, who struggled with injury early this year, will split his time in the ruck and at centre half-forward with Brown absent.

"He took a while to get up and going but he's fit and healthy now," Voss said. "We need him playing good minutes for us, he's one of our go-too players and we need him to step up."

At the other end of the ground, vice-captain Daniel Merrett, towelled up by Barry Hall in his return from injury last week, has another massive task in marking Tigers sensation Jack Riewoldt.

"He'll be better for his first run back," Voss said. "We threw him in after six weeks off and that's a big challenge.

"He was always going to be a bit rusty."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP