Since the golden era of 2001-04, the Lions have played finals just once in 2009 and have finished no higher than 12^th since.

Remarkably, the Lions can lock in September football with a win on Saturday and even better, move closer towards securing a top-four spot.

RELATED: Burgoyne to match Goodes record in Launceston

Launceston's history of big visitors

Birchall ready for Lions: Clarkson

Assistant coach Murray Davis was reluctant to speak about the Lions' chances of finishing minor premiers, but conceded the club's form was a major talking point back home.

"We haven't talked about home finals [but] it'd be huge for us," Davis said.

"Football in Queensland is really buzzing at the moment, it'd be terrific for all our supporters and members that have stood by us - that sort of stuff would be wonderful but we haven't even talked about it.

"There's a lot of people that are getting behind us in Brisbane and Queensland in general and it'd be nice to reward all of them."

The Lions also appear to have plenty of fans in Launceston, with a sizeable crowd of maroon, blue and gold turning up to watch the visitors train on Friday afternoon.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

Vice-captain Harris Andrews was the notable absence from the Lions squad after the 22-year-old failed to overturn a one-match suspension for striking North Melbourne's Nick Larkey.

The All-Australian fancy's absence will leave Josh Walker to tackle the Hawks' three-pronged forward line of Mitch Lewis, Tim O'Brien and Conor Nash.

Davis backed Walker in as a "like-for-like" replacement for his best defender.

"We feel we've got a really adaptable backline," Davis said.

"[Josh has] played 10 games for us this year and I think out of those 10 we've won seven, so he comes into the team in good form.

"Marcus Adams has now played a couple of games down back, Darcy Gardiner can play tall, Josh Walker comes in and plays tall and Hodgey [Luke Hodge] himself can play tall - that's something we've been able to meet head-on is playing on different types.

"They're in good form those three talls, but we feel we've got the guys down back to be able to cover them."