Deadline day looms for ailing Brisbane defender Jack Payne, while there is said to be an injury watch on forward Lincoln McCarthy ahead of the Lions' final main training session at the Gabba on Thursday before departing for Melbourne.
Payne, who injured his ankle during Brisbane's qualifying final win over Port Adelaide almost three weeks ago and missed the Lions' preliminary final triumph over Carlton last Saturday, remains in doubt to face the Magpies in this weekend's Grand Final.
Having been given every chance to prove his fitness by the Lions ahead of Saturday's decider, a fitness test on Thursday at the Gabba will determine whether Payne is made available for selection by Brisbane's medical team.
According toย Sevenย reporter Mitch Cleary, Payne was put through his paces on Wednesday, though Thursday looms as 'deadline day' for the 23-year-old stopper.
"[Payne] trained a little bit Tuesday, was put through a bit of movement, change of direction [work], but the big test is tomorrow," Cleary reported on Wednesday evening.
"[The ankle] needs to be 100 per cent if he is to twist Chris Fagan's arm and win his spot back, having missed out on the prelim with that ankle."
Cleary claimed key backman Darcy Gardiner will retain his spot if Payne can't go, adding that Payne is visiting the same hyperbaric chamber as a Matildas superstar.
"Darcy Gardiner is the incumbent, so [he] will play if Jack Payne can't convince Chris Fagan he's right to go," Cleary continued.
"He's been doing cryotherapy during the week, he's actually going to the same hyperbaric chamber that Sam Kerr used when she was up here in Brisbane during the Matildas' (World Cup) campaign for her calf injury, so Jack Payne [is] going to all lengths he can to get that ankle right."
Cleary also reported there's "a watch" on McCarthy, who was absent from Brisbane training on Wednesday due to an apparent calf issue, though Cleary maintained the small forward is likely to play this Saturday.
"Bit of a watch, too, on Lincoln McCarthy, he didn't train on Tuesday with a bit of a calf concern, a watch, too, on him tomorrow for main training at the Gabba at a closed session before he flies to Melbourne, but I think he will be okay to take his spot," Cleary said.
"The big test is tomorrow...(Jack Payne) is actually going to the same hyperbaric chamber Sam Kerr used for her calf injury".@cleary_mitch has an update on Jack Payne's ankle - and some news on a calf niggle for Lincoln McCarthy ๐ฐ pic.twitter.com/LFidEG1oQt
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 27, 2023
Brisbane and Collingwood will submit their selected Grand Final squads on Thursday evening at 6:20 PM (AEST) before they go head-to-head at 2:30 PM (AEST) this Saturday.
