First year on-baller Rhys Mathieson says Brisbane should embrace the challenge of meeting an elite side on the warpath.

A 32-point loss to Collingwood last Saturday cost GWS a place in the top four and they will be desperate for a percentage-boosting win against the Lions on Sunday with positions within the top eight hotly contested.

“I’m sure they’ll come out hard but we should be looking to come out just as hard,” Mathieson told The Courier Mail.

Mathieson, playing just his fourth AFL game against Gold Coast, was among the best for his team for the second match in a row - collecting 24 possessions (10 contested), seven inside 50s and five clearances.

The youthful Lions outfit played on at every opportunity to turn last weekend’s match into a shoot-out against the SUNS, with a host of the Club's newest players giving fans plenty to be excited about despite the 26-point loss.

“We don’t take a backward step any week and I’m sure we won’t be taking a backward step this week.

“We never think we are going out to lose. We always go out thinking we can win and this will be no different.”

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