Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has provided updates on Eric Hipwood and Cam Rayner after the pair suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries last year.
Hipwood is on track to return earlier than expected after rupturing his ACL against St Kilda in Round 17 last July, with Fagan telling reporters the forward could be available for selection in May.
The 24-year-old’s absence hurt the Lions structurally in the latter part of 2021 as they crashed out of last year’s finals in straight sets.
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“He (Hipwood) thinks he’s going to be back for the start of the season. He won’t be, but he might not be too far in,” Fagan said on Monday.
“May, end of May, is probably a reasonable time frame for him to get back if he doesn’t have any hiccups.
“It’s been pretty straightforward to this stage with no setbacks.”
Rayner, who missed all of 2021 after tearing his ACL in a pre-season match against Gold Coast last March, is on track for Round 1 selection.
“Cam, you wouldn’t know he had a knee injury. He’s doing everything now,” Fagan said.
“He was a little bit modified before Christmas.
“We just didn’t want him to do any competitive work or too much change of direction, but now he’s doing it.
“You always look at those guys or watch them in training and when they change direction you sort of close your eyes and then have a bit of a look to see if they're OK when they come out, but he looks fine.”
Brisbane will take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in the AAMI Community Series on March 4.