What would you do if you met a healthier version of you?
That's the question for the Brisbane Lions on Sunday when they face Port Adelaide, whose incredible rise from also-rans to powerhouses has inspired all of the AFL's battling clubs.
The Lions, bottom of the ladder after six rounds and reeling from a horrific injury toll, are about where the Power were a few years ago, before the arrival of coach Ken Hinkley completely transformed a young group lacking in confidence into a side with genuine premiership aspirations.
It's not lost on Justin Leppitsch, who has just steered Brisbane to their first win of the year on the back of a summer where the club sold ultimately false hope that they might be ready to make that jump this season.
"Coming off the Matty Primus era, they had some injuries as well and a bit of bad luck, and it all came together at the right time under Ken," Leppitsch said.
"Every club's in a different phase of their development and what they're doing.
"Of course everyone wants to emulate Port Adelaide because it's rare a team goes from such a low position to a high (position) like they did a few years ago.
"But yes, that improvement can be rapid - there's no doubt."
It is that sort of optimism that should drive the Lions, who are already out of realistic finals calculations, for the remainder of the year.
But midfielder Dayne Beams has warned that it won't come easy.
"We've still got a lot of work to do with the group that we've got," he said.
"From an outsider looking in, it is impressive what they've been able to do over the last few years.
"Hopefully with a few more wins and a few more years under this team's belt we can get there one day.
"We are under no illusions where we're at - we're still a really developing side and hopefully we can develop into something really formidable over the next few years."
Leppitsch has opted to make no changes to the side that defeated Carlton in Melbourne last week, but the Power have brought in Jarman Impey, Cameron O'Shea and Karl Amon for key defender Alipate Carlile (back), Brendon Ah Chee and Aaron Young (both omitted).
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