Brisbane coach Chris Fagan won't be giving his players a pat on the back just yet, despite the Lions rocketing back into premiership contention.
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The Lions sat a lowly 13th on the AFL ladder with a 4-6-1 record after losing to Hawthorn on the eve of their mid-season bye.
But six wins on the trot have lifted Brisbane into fourth spot and back into the race for the flag.
They are now just half a win adrift of second-placed Carlton.
The Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Melbourne have all fallen to Brisbane during their six-match golden run.
But with a huge test against ladder leaders Sydney to come on Sunday at the Gabba, Fagan knows it's not the time to rest of their laurels.
"We're not giving ourselves a pat on the back right now," he said.
"We've won eight of our last 10 games and had a draw.
"So we've put ourselves back in the picture, we've given ourselves an opportunity. That's all we've done.
"We've got a lot of hard games coming up, starting with the Sydney Swans, who are (by) a long way the best team in the competition at the moment.
"We're looking forward to that challenge, but know that we've got to keep our heads down for the rest of the year just to try and make finals."
Such is the closeness of the competition, Brisbane would have dropped to ninth if they had lost to West Coast in Perth on Sunday.
Fagan was proud of the way his team fought their way to a 13-point win over the Eagles, who were full of emotion on a day they farewelled premiership coach Adam Simpson.
The Lions may have to face Sydney without star forward Charlie Cameron, who was slapped with a three-match ban for his driving tackle that concussed West Coast co-captain Liam Duggan.
Cameron overturned a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle earlier this season using the "good guy'' defence at the AFL Tribunal.
Unless Brisbane successfully overturn his latest charge, Cameron will miss games against Sydney, Gold Coast and St Kilda.
The Lions indicated on Monday night that they will appeal against the suspension.
West Coast face St Kilda next Saturday, and interim coach Jarrad Schofield wants them to put up another fighting display.
"The players have already acknowledged that we didn't win (against Brisbane)," Schofield said.
"We performed well but we didn't get the win, so there's a reality to that.
"We've got to make sure we back it up now."
The Eagles will be without Duggan (concussion) and possibly Tyler Brockman, who was subbed out against Brisbane with an ankle injury.
Veteran Jack Darling has put his name in the frame for a recall after tallying two goals, seven marks and 17 disposals in the WAFL last weekend.
Australian Associated Press
