As tempting as it is, Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss has resisted injecting key duo Josh Drummond and Xavier Clarke into their Easter Thursday AFL showdown with St Kilda in Brisbane.

While "desperate" to break their losing streak against the Saints - surprisingly also without a season win - Voss has taken a cautious approach as his big name players return to the training paddock, including Jonathan Brown.

The Lions captain raised eyebrows when he resumed full training - six weeks ahead of his scheduled comeback from horrific facial fractures.

But Voss said no one should read too much into it - although he clearly can't wait for Brown's return.

"They (medical staff) stipulate a certain time that the bone needs to heal - once that time frame is up it is quite safe for him to return," Voss said.

"He is going to be very frustrated because he can do full training and everything but that's a good thing for him.

"We know when we get him back he is going to be really fresh and firing - his body is going to be feeling good.

"I would not want to be facing Brown fresh in round nine or 10 - he'll be absolutely busting to finish off the season well."

Attacking defender Drummond has not played a game this season due to a quad complaint while ex-Saints wingman Clarke is back from revolutionary LARS knee surgery in the pre-season.

Both will play a match in the reserves before making an AFL comeback.

"He (Drummond) will be available but we have decided to make sure he gets a game under his belt before he comes in and plays (for the Lions)," Voss said.

"And Clarke was going to play this week but we just feel another week will do him the world of good.

"So we have some cavalry arriving, not for this game but hopefully for the next couple of weeks.

"We would like those players back but we feel we have the cattle there to do some damage (on Thursday night)."

Their 0-3 season start has already prompted comparisons with the Lions' nadir - their 1998 wooden spoon season.

But Voss is up-beat after suffering only one blowout in their winless start - a 78-point round two thumping at the hands of Western Bulldogs.

"We have put in two honest performances like St Kilda and both of us have put in a performance that we are not proud of," said Voss, referring to Saints' 52-point, round three loss to Essendon.

"We sit in a very similar position (to Saints) but we want a reward with a 'w' against our name and we feel we are not that far away from getting it."

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