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Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko says his AFL club won't shy away from a potential qualifying final against Richmond, but they must first focus on defeating Sydney.

Brisbane would relish another qualifying final against bogey side Richmond, but captain Dayne Zorko insists his AFL club's sole focus is on Sunday's important clash with Sydney.

The Lions will ensure they finish first or second on the ladder with victory over the 15th-placed Swans in Cairns.

The current ladder would pitch Brisbane into a Gabba battle against flag-favourites Richmond in week one of the finals.

The Lions confronted the same opposition at the same venue when they returned to finals in 2019, only to suffer a 47-point loss then exit in straight sets.

Brisbane aren't alone in recently struggling against Damien Hardwick's side, who are hunting a third premiership in four years.

But the Lions' woes against the Tigers date back long before Hardwick's appointment in 2009; they have won just one of their past 21 meetings with Richmond.

"They've certainly been the benchmark in the competition over the last four years," Zorko told reporters.

"They showed that last night (in a win over Geelong), just how exciting and how good a team and team system they have.

"It's a great opportunity for us if it does arise and it's certainly one we won't be shying away from ... it would be exciting.

"That's still a couple of weeks away. We can't focus on that."

Zorko's team finish the regular season with matches against the Swans and Carlton, teams that have proven this year they are more than capable of causing upsets.

The Lions, who have had limited time to recover from Wednesday's win over Gold Coast, will fly north without Lincoln McCarthy (corked thigh), Jarrod Berry (shoulder) and Brandon Starcevich (concussion).

Four-time premiership winner Grant Birchall returns after being rested, while Mitch Hinge and Cam Ellis-Yolmen have also been recalled.

Ruckman Joel Amartey will become the Swans' seventh debutant of the season.

Sydney made four changes to the team that lost to Carlton, also calling up Dylan Stephens, James Bell and Callum Mills.

Zorko argued the Swans have already shown their rebuild will be short, arguing the Lions will need to be at their best to bank four premiership points on Sunday.

"They've knocked off some really good teams," he said.

"I know from experience that when young players get that sort of confidence, when they know they can do it at the top level, then it just grows and the momentum is enormous."

Sydney coach John Longmire suggested his club are "really looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the better teams in the comp".

"They've got one of the strongest midfields in the comp," Longmire said.