Brisbane recruit Tom Doedee is all but set to play his first game for the club after crossing from Adelaide as a restricted free agent.
Suffering an ACL injury in Round 12 last year, Doedee has made a speedy recovery to put his hand up for senior selection after successfully returning through the VFL.
Following a 10-month rehabilitation program, the former Crow is "stronger... and more mature" and is ready to return to the level.
"This time I feel stronger," Doedee said to reporters on Monday.
"I feel a lot more mature and a better athlete โฆ and have a better sense of the game after having a year out.
"Physically I feel exactly where I was at pre-knee, which is all you can hope for post-ACL."
Doedee's availability couldn't have come at a better time for the Lions, with key defensive duo Keidean Coleman and Conor McKenna going down in the past fortnight.
Like the free agent, Coleman was struck down with an ACL tear in the season opener against Carlton while McKenna's hamstring injury will sideline him for another three weeks.
"No, definitely (no urgency given the injuries)," Doedee said.
"You don't want to come back before you're ready and waste 10 months of work and I feel like we've got a lot of depth at this club.
"They (Coleman and McKenna) are obviously big losses but we feel we can replace them and still play quality football.
"It was more that the timeline happened to work out that way that I was ready at 10 months and those two boys unfortunately went down in the weeks prior."
Following a 0-2 start, the Lions have been uncharacteristic in what they've produced so far, losing to Carlton and Fremantle despite being in winning positions.
Throughout 2023, Chris Fagan's men were the fifth hardest team to score against (avg. 77 points against).
In the opening fortnight, they've conceded an average of 90 points per game but lapses in defensive concentration have led to a pile-on of goals from the opposition.
At his best, Doedee is a backline beast and is known for his one-on-one prowess.
The 27-year-old also made it apparent of his aerial capabilities, peeling off his direct opponent and helping his teammates but intercepting or spoiling the ball.
An experienced defender, Doedee's likely selection for the crunch clash on Thursday against Collingwood.
Fagan is in desperate need of a stopper, which the ex-Crow can provide in the defensive 50.
