If fate had not stepped in three years ago, Michael Voss could have been travelling to the Gabba for the Brisbane Lions' Saturday night AFL clash as West Coast coach John Worsfold's assistant.

He may have missed out on being groomed by Worsfold, who has surprisingly taken the once-battling Eagles to the verge of a top four finish.

But Voss reckons Worsfold's West Coast will still provide him important information this weekend.

Voss took up the Lions' reins without serving an apprenticeship in 2008, just weeks before he was set to fly out for WA and link with Worsfold.

Fast forward three years and Voss' Lions are destined to finish a second straight lean year at 15th while the Eagles are soaring.

Voss clearly has no regrets - despite the Lions' disappointing results the AFL club is set to announce he has been re-signed for another two years.

And Voss can see sparks of improvement - namely their strong showing against defending premiers Collingwood last week.

But the Lions coach believed he would learn more about his side's progress against a team that was in a similar predicament not so long ago.

From wooden spooners last year the West Coast can lock up fourth spot, a home final and a double chance by downing the Lions at the Gabba.

"We've got a good snapshot of a team that has gone through a building phase themselves and getting some rewards," Voss said on Friday.

"We have prided ourselves on trying to match ourselves against top four teams.

"It's the back end of the year and some people might say 'what is there to play for?'

"But there is a lot to play for - we still have a lot to find out about ourselves."

Voss has already discovered much about in-form ruckman Matthew Leuenberger in recent weeks - and is keen to find out more when he lines up against two of the best in the business, West Coast's Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

"If anyone is going to have serious benchmark on where he is at it is Leuey but he is up for it - I can't remember him being in better form," Voss said.

"It's what we hope we get from him in the next 10 years of his footy career."

For Voss it is all about the future.

And after locking in the likes of young guns Leuenberger, Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich, his sights are set on Mitch Clark.

Voss said he was "optimistic" the ruckman/forward would re-sign after undergoing season-ending knee surgery on Friday.

"Absolutely. He is a required player here," Voss said.

"You've got to have a good stable group coming through together and that takes time.

"I see some of those signs of it coming together.

"Regardless of what happens in the next two weeks we are starting to see signs of genuine improvement."

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