Milestone man Joel Patfull believes the downtrodden Brisbane Lions can duplicate the shock success of opening round opponents Fremantle and be the AFL's 2011 surprise-packets.

Set to play his 100th senior game on Saturday night, Patfull said confidence had returned at the Gabba following a disastrous 2010 and forgettable off-season.

The 26-year-old centre half-back has seen a massive turnaround with encouraging last-start trial wins over Melbourne and Gold Coast.

Patfull admitted the victories were crucial after three consecutive pre-season thumpings, on top of the fallout from Brendan Fevola's off-field dramas and the loss of Jared Brennan and Michael Rischitelli to the Suns.

"We've got our season back on track and everyone is ready to go," the defender said on Wednesday. "We've come through it very well.

"Our performances in the last two weeks has shown that the boys are a very solid group.

"We had a rough patch in the first few games and didn't play great but the way the boys handled it we've come through so strong."

With skipper Jonathan Brown to make his first appearance of 2011 against the Dockers, Drummond felt it was important to show how united the Lions were under coach Michael Voss with a first-up win.

"Everyone is 100 per cent behind Vossy and it means everything for us to be behind Vossy," he said.

"To put out a good performance this weekend will really mean a lot."

Although Fremantle are tipped to again be finalists, the Lions justifiably like their chances at the Gabba as the Dockers are set to be without six of their top-22 players.

Patfull said the Lions can take a leaf out of their rivals' book after they snuck under the radar to win seven of their first eight games of 2010.

"They rolled into the season a bit like us and no one really expected them to do much but they ended up playing finals and playing good footy as well," he said.

"There's no reason we can't do the same."

Patfull, drafted as a mature recruit from Norwood after failing to break through as a Port Adelaide rookie, still rates his Lions 2006 debut as a career highlight when he kicked a goal with his first touch and impressed in a big win over the Power.

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