Brisbane are shunning all AFL finals talk but the Lions are desperate to take their "next step" against Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night.
Coming off their first back-to-back success of the year, the resurgent Lions feel they are back near where they started 2013 as pre-season premiers and possessing plenty of promise.
Brisbane ended 2012 with three straight wins but victory over the Demons at TIO Stadium would repeat a rare hat-trick and provide a more meaningful springboard for a tilt at the top-eight.
It would leave them 7-9 and possibly just a game from eighth - an amazing turnaround after a 4-8 start to the season.
"Coming off those three wins last year was an encouraging sign but we know we have to make that next step," said tagger Andrew Raines.
"We have fought our way through a tough period in the middle of the season and we think we've got ourselves back on a good track."
Even with stirring comeback wins over Geelong and North Melbourne under Brisbane's belt, coach Michael Voss has insisted finals don't even bare contemplating.
Raines, likely to mark up on Nathan Jones in Darwin, also stressed the Lions couldn't lift their gaze with games against Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Richmond, GWS, Bulldogs and Geelong to follow.
"A fair bit of confidence is a good thing but we're just trying to maintain consistency in our training and bring that into our game," he said, adding the Demons had noticeably lifted their competitiveness under Neil Craig.
"We're going to have to be wary of that and combat them with contested football."
The Lions eased past Melbourne by 28 points at the Gabba in round five when Mark Neeld was forced to face questions why he'd let Brent Moloney go after the former Demon was best on ground at the Gabba.
Moloney will be missing for Brisbane due to a calf injury and Simon Black (knee) also remains on the sidelines, while Melbourne have young gun Jack Viney back to bolster their midfield.
"It is disappointing but at the same time it gives another young group the chance to step up," Raines said of the Lions' sidelined on-ballers.
"To fill Blacky's shoes has been exciting for the young boys, there's been some great talent come through in the midfield and we've built that up."
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