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Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko has labelled their shock Hawthorn loss a reality check, but knows it could easily be repeated unless they plug a leaky defence.

Brisbane's leaky defence must be plugged to ensure a "reality check" loss to Hawthorn becomes nothing more, according to the AFL club's captain Dayne Zorko.

Not since 2018 has an AFL side kicked more than Brisbane's 112 points and lost, a statistic not missed on the Lions captain.

"That 117 (Hawthorn's score) would be a good one to go through," he said on Tuesday when asked what went wrong in Launceston.

"We were really poor defensively, disappointed the way Hawthorn were able to get through us.

"They got great momentum runs and we weren't able to match them and when we did it was a bit too late.

"Well done to them and a good reality check for us."

It dropped the Lions to 8-2, equal with Carlton but now two games adrift of unbeaten, first-placed Melbourne.

Zorko can sense more danger looming at the Gabba on Saturday against GWS.

"They've got a new coach, trying different things, which was really noticeable against West Coast," he said.

"They seemed to pick their way through West Coast pretty easily so we'll have to bring our pressure game to counter that."

Midfielder Hugh McCluggage (hamstring) is a chance of playing despite pulling up sore against the Hawks.

"With Hugh it's just going to be wait and see," Zorko said.

"He's done everything right in the pre-season to give his body the best chance.

"These little niggles happen and Hughy's renowned for it to be honest, we're into him most weeks about little niggles."

In-form defender Marcus Adams (health and safety protocols) should return to bolster the backline while Dan McStay (ankle) is an outside chance of playing and Joe Daniher (shoulder) still some weeks away.