West Coast's phoenix-like rise from AFL cellar dwellers to finals contender should inspire lowly Brisbane, says Lions utility Brent Staker.

Staker, who played 110 games for West Coast before crossing to the Lions for the 2010 season, said his former teammates have proved sides do not need years to rebuild.

The fact the Eagles have risen from last in 2010 to fifth, with five weeks remaining this season, highlights how attitude plays a major role in results.

"From finishing bottom to top four is apparently one of the great turnarounds in AFL history. They are going great," Staker told reporters on Thursday.

"No doubt the boys here, or any team in the AFL, when they see situations like that, it just goes to show anything is possible and you don't need two or three years of rebuilding.

"It can be turned around in the space of four or five months of pre-season."

Staker, while envious of his teammates, has no regrets about switching clubs even though he has played in only a handful of victories at the Lions.

The 27-year-old remains in contact with a few of his former teammates and is contracted to the Lions until the end of 2013.

"...always a tough situation, but you can't look back. It will drive you mad," he said.

After having a bye last weekend, the Lions host Adelaide at the Gabba on Sunday.

Staker said a number of players headed down the coast to forget about the side's lamentable season which has yielded just three wins from 17 matches.

One of those victories was a creditable 40-point win over the Crows in round 10 at AAMI Stadium.

He said the tactics behind that win would form part of their game plan on Sunday.

"It will be spoken about in our team meeting come Saturday," Staker said.

"That was a geat win by the boys and done with purpose and I'm sure a lot of those tactics will come into consideration or be part of the plan this week."

As a former Eagle, Staker has experienced the intensity of local derbies and the emotional fallout players feel the following week.

The Crows are coming off their derby win over Port Adelaide and Staker's hoping the visitors feel a little deflated heading into Sunday's clash.

"Definitely in WA it was such a big build-up before a derby or a showdown so maybe they might be a little bit fatigued and we've come off a week's rest and ready to go," he said.

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