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Cameron Rayner's running ability has improved enough to earn him more midfield minutes in one of few tweaks for beaten AFL grand finalists Brisbane.

He's no "endurance beast" but Cameron Rayner's graduation to midfield mainstay could be one of the few subtle tweaks required to make the difference, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says.

Beaten by four points in last season's AFL grand final, a largely settled Lions have licked their wounds and are hungry to go again when their season begins at the Gabba against Carlton on Friday.

Defensive recruit Tom Doedee (knee) is still some weeks from playing but otherwise it's moves like Rayner into the midfield, and regular back Darcy Gardiner's potential role as the third tall forward, that will keep the Lions ahead of the curve.

"It's all about tweaks," Fagan said on Thursday.

"You look at all the great organisations around the world ... they don't make too many changes.

"Maybe one or two good ideas ... so that's what we've been searching for.

"We won't change too much because what we had got us pretty close.

"We don't need to turn the world upside down."

No.1 draft pick in 2017, Rayner has been used as a key forward and small forward, and started last season at halfback.

The 24-year-old's running has improved enough, according to Fagan, to finally unleash him for longer periods in an already stacked midfield.

"He's not an endurance beast, but it's improved enough ... and his value is his power at the stoppages" Fagan said.

Rayner has earned a reputation for his impactful one-out plays but says his focus is on more consistent contributions.

He said he had learned what has and hasn't worked in pre-season to improve his running.

"I want to be a player that's reliable every single week and not be up and down through games," he said.

"Being consistent allows me to do other things in the game."

Rayner and his teammates wasted no time addressing the crucial moments in their loss to premiers Collingwood in the week after last year's grand final.

"It's difficult, doesn't get easier to watch it," Rayner said.

"All the hype around Collingwood defending the premiership, it's hard not to think about how close we were.

"It's a tough pill to swallow, but everyone's taken it the right way and come back really hungry."

Brisbane defender Conor McKenna (hamstring) will miss the clash with the Blues, who let slip a five-goal lead to lose the preliminary final in their last visit to Brisbane.

Zac Williams returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament for Michael Voss's team, but Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank and Jesse Motlop are all unavailable.