DANIEL Merrett is adamant learning from last year's shock loss against Gold Coast stands the Brisbane Lions in good stead ahead of Sunday's visit from Greater Western Sydney.
The build-up to the match has striking similarities to the Lions' round seven nightmare against the Suns last year.
Hosting a fledgling team with nothing to lose, a returning Lions player - this time it's Luke Power while last year it was best-on-ground Jared Brennan and Michael Rischitelli - and outside grumblings about coach Michael Voss.
Last year the result was an eight-point win to the upstart Suns, and vice-captain Merrett says that is at the forefront of the Lions' thoughts this time around.
"We've been in that situation, same as last year, Gold Coast, first game against them, new team, a lot of pressure is on us to win," Merrett said.
"We didn't handle it that well last year, but I think we're prepared for it.
"This week we've just been focusing on our preparation, getting all those little things done right so we can come into the game with all the confidence knowing we've done everything possible to win this weekend."
In a week when chairman Angus Johnson questioned the preparation of some players, Merrett denied there was any pressure on Voss.
"It's not ideal copping a whack from the chairman, but it's happened, we've got past it, spoken about it and moved on," he said.
"We've got to be accountable for how we're playing at the moment.
"A win's a win. The guys just want to get back in the winner's circle and sing that team song again."
The Lions have a 2-5 record, but it's the nature of the losses that has been disappointing, copping pastings from Carlton, Geelong, Essendon and Collingwood.
In the past three weeks - against the Cats, Bombers and Magpies - the matches have effectively been over at quarter-time with the Lions four goals or more behind.
"We're not going that great at the moment but what we're focusing on is our preparation and sticking together as a group," Merrett said.
"The worst thing we can do now is have those in-house fights so we're sticking together and looking forward to tomorrow's game.
"When the pressure comes, it's how you handle that pressure and we probably haven't handled it that well against good sides and we've been shown up."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
