Brisbane Lions co-captain Luke Power is racing the clock to be fit for a crucial AFL clash against Richmond after missing training tonight.
The Lions are keeping their fingers crossed Power will complete training on Friday and take part in Saturday night's Telstra Dome showdown with the Tigers.
Power was again pivotal for the Lions with 31 possessions in Brisbane's 46-point thumping of West Coast at the Gabba last weekend, despite nursing the shoulder complaint.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews was confident Power would not be added to their injury list when he assessed his side on Monday.
But Power sent a scare through the team today when he did not front for training.
Jed Adcock (quad) and Joel Macdonald (ankle) also face fitness tests this week but Jonathan Brown (shoulder) and Simon Black (hip) are expected to back up for the clash against bogey team Richmond after soldiering on against West Coast.
The Lions (6th; 9-7 record) have not beaten Richmond (10th; 7-8) since 2004 and lost their last three games in Melbourne.
The drought against the Tigers includes a draw last season in which Brisbane Lions' Josh Drummond famously made a stunning interception in the dying seconds to deny Richmond their first win of 2007 and ensure scores remained locked up at fulltime.
"Results show they have the wood on us for the last few years so we will be looking to turn the tables on them," Drummond said today.
"They are a pretty quick running side, we have trouble at times with those sort of sides.
"But this is an important game for the club. We have a bit of confidence from the weekend so hopefully we can take another step forward against the Tigers."
The Lions snapped a worrying two game losing run against sides outside the top eight against West Coast to keep their hopes of a first finals campaign in four years alive.
"We know our best footy is still to come. We need to produce that in what will be an important six weeks for the club (until the end of the regular season)," Drummond said.
"Our best form is ahead of us and we have a lot of improvement. But we know we are no finals certainties."
