Branded "mercenaries" by their ex-club, Gold Coast Suns converts Jared Brennan and Michael Rischitelli may yet have the last laugh on the Brisbane Lions after providing a blueprint for success for Saturday night's first Queensland AFL derby.

And in another poke in the eye for the Lions, ex-Brisbane champion Shaun Hart - now a Suns assistant coach - claimed a Gold Coast win would be a "great thing for Queensland footy".

Hart's former Brisbane teammate Simon Black fired the first salvo ahead of the Gabba clash after branding ex-Lions Brennan and Rischitelli "mercenaries" for signing lucrative deals with the AFL debutants.

While the pair have bitten their tongues publicly, Hart said they had been more than forthcoming about the Lions off the field.

Despite coming off a 139-point mauling from Essendon that Hart admitted may have "messed" with the Suns' heads, he backed Gold Coast against Brisbane after Brennan and Rischitelli's valuable input.

"We certainly have got some information from them," Hart said on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

"Having been inside the organisation it helps you understand where they move the ball at different stages of the game and ground, about their players and who they will set up off the contest.

"We have compiled that information and turned it into an understanding of how we can beat them so they have been very useful."

Despite the usually conservative Black's assessment of the pair, Hart did not expect Brennan and Rischitelli to be targeted physically by the Lions.

"I think verbally the Lions will come at the boys," he said.

"But I don't think they will get physical with Rischa - he is too tough.

"And I reckon Jared will be ready for any of that stuff.

"But my understanding of the Lions culture is that guys who have been part of the club still get a fair bit of respect ... it will be 'go the football' not the ex-players."

Surprisingly the Suns go into the first derby above the win-less Lions on the AFL ladder after their magnificent win over Port Adelaide.

But Hart hinted that the Suns were vulnerable after being blown away last round by the Bombers.

"It would have messed with a few guys' minds," he said.

"But I think the majority of our guys have been pretty resilient.

"They understand what they didn't do right and they will quickly address those things."

Hart may have enjoyed three premierships and a Norm Smith Medal with Brisbane but did not have mixed emotions ahead of Saturday night's clash.

"Not really. I loved the Lions footy club, I had a long history with them and am thankful of being part of that but I have a new role on the Gold Coast," he said.

"It would be a super thing for the Gold Coast club to win this (derby).

"It is not going to be easy - Brisbane may be 0-5 but they will be hurting over that.

"But for us to win would be a great thing for Queensland footy."

The Suns have welcomed back Nathan Bock (suspension) and fit-again Nathan Krakouer as well as ruckman Daniel Gorringe and debutants Sam Day, Joey Daye and Tom Lynch.

They come in for Josh Fraser (back), Charlie Dixon (calf), Seb Tape (rested) Harley Bennell, Steven May and Luke Russell (reserves).

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP