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Replicating the long-term consistency of teams like Brisbane is now Carlton's goal after they surged home in 2023 to end a nine-year AFL finals drought.

Michael Voss admits his old club have provided Carlton a premiership blueprint ahead of their return to what could have been at the Gabba.

The Blues built a 30-point lead early in last year's AFL preliminary final against Brisbane, only for the Lions to storm back and win by 16.

Brisbane then lost by four points to Collingwood in a see-sawing decider.

Carlton coach Voss said his side's experience after nine years without a finals game had been invaluable and that it was now their challenge to repeat it.

"That was some of the more unbelievable scenes I've seen, at the Gabba, in my entire time," former three-time Lions premiership captain Voss said of Carlton's huge crowd presence in Brisbane last September.

"It was our first look at it, finals football, our first exposure and to see that atmosphere is going to be huge experience for us.

"So we'll lean on that, but it doesn't mean you get to transfer all of that.

"We took a fair leaf out of the two grand final teams.

"They've had four, five years around the mark, had their own experiences at the back end of seasons. But they've been consistent home-and-away sides.

"That's something we haven't been able to replicate."

Lions coach Chris Fagan said his side had wiped last year's finals campaign from their minds and were ready to go again.

"It feels just the same," he said of the opening-round nerves.

"I haven't had a pain in the guts for four or five months, but I got one this week.

"That's why he (Leigh Matthews) reckons he gave it away, he got sick of that.

"It never changes, it's always exciting."

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 Voss's team, but Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank and Jesse Motlop are all unavailable.