Not much fazes Chris Fagan these days.
The AFL's most recent premiership coach certainly isn't panicking about a few slow starts - especially when his team has been winning regardless.
Brisbane trailed Sydney by 23 points and West Coast by 31 points before quarter-time in the opening two games of their flag defence.
They then fell 32 points behind Geelong in the second quarter last week.
Each time they fought back to win in a 3-0 start to the campaign.
"I'm not as worried about it as what everybody else is," Fagan said ahead of the round-four clash with Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
"Everybody looks for trends in this game, but it's not alarming at the moment.
"We want to start well but we have that as a priority every week.
"We'll certainly be working on that this week and hopefully we can change the trend."
That could spell trouble for the Tigers, with Fagan also noting Brisbane were the best first-quarter team "by a mile" last season.
And while he was happy to look back at that statistic, he won't get caught daydreaming when the Lions return to the MCG for the first time since last year's premiership triumph.
"I did that at the Boxing Day Test match," a grinning Fagan said.
"I went there on day one and I thought, 'The last time I was here we won a premiership'.
"I don't think I'll do that this week."
The round-four assignment is all about business as Brisbane look to bank their first win over Richmond at the MCG since May 2009, after seven straight defeats.
Ruckman Oscar McInerney returns for the Lions after missing the nine-point victory over Geelong with gastro, while young forward Will McLachlan replaces Kai Lohmann (ankle).
Darcy Fort makes way for McInerney, who will do battle with Richmond captain Toby Nankervis in the ruck.
The Tigers have brought back Sam Banks from concussion as a replacement for suspended forward Rhyan Mansell, who was given a three-match ban for rough conduct.
After a surprise round-one win over Carlton, Richmond have been comprehensively beaten by Port Adelaide (72 points) and St Kilda (82 points).
But second-year coach Adem Yze has urged his rebuilding side to embrace the occasion against the competition heavyweights.
"They won the premiership for a reason," he said.
"For Harry Armstrong to play on Harris Andrews and Sammy Lalor to be leaning on Lachie Neale and Luke Trainor to play on some of their gun forwards - it's just a great opportunity for some of our players.
"We want them to feel like they belong on an AFL field and we're trying to really fast-track that.
"What better way to do it than against the best team in the competition."
