While some might have questioned whether the Brisbane Lions should have ‘risked’ bringing Matthew Leuenberger back into the senior side for the team’s final match of the season, there was no questioning Leuenberger’s own intentions.

After undergoing knee surgery following the Port Adelaide game in Round 4, and later battling Achilles soreness, the 26-year-old told The Courier-Mail that he was “desperate” to play one more senior game in 2014.

“I was pretty desperate to play because I was over being in rehab. It’s been a frustrating year,’’ Leuenberger told The Courier-Mail on Thursday.

“I’d much prefer to play given how many injuries I’ve had in the past.

“I’m not in a position to pick and choose when I play.

“To get a game in before the end of the year puts me in a better headspace over the pre-season.

Leuenberger’s return will also give Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch a glimpse into how he and in-form ruckman Stefan Martin might work together next season.

“A lot has also changed since I last played with a top-line ruckman running around for us, so any chance I can get to develop a combination with Stef, I was always going to jump at that,” Leuenberger said.

“I think we can be quite damaging as a duo when we get up and going.

“I can’t hold down the ruck 80 per cent any more. We’ve got to get Stef in there because he’s so good, so I’ll put that work in so I can become more of an option up forward.”