Poker face: star Lion's big tell on finals fitness

Hugh McCluggage's honesty means Chris Fagan is confident the Brisbane Lions star will be ripe for an AFL finals return against Sydney.

Having missed the last three games - all impressive wins - the co-captain and 2025 All-Australian is set to return from his latest calf injury in Saturday's qualifying final against the Swans at the SCG.

The silky midfielder has only managed 13 games this season but is considered a must by teammates, with co-captain Harris Andrews this week labelling him the Lions' best player in a stacked squad.

He may also be the most honest, with Fagan admitting he could tell plenty by how McCluggage carried himself at training on Tuesday.

"He did the whole session, he was terrific, he was bubbly and as confident as I've seen him and he's not one to fake it," Fagan said.

"In fact, he's the other way around. He's an easy tell I reckon when he's not happy with himself."

It means there will be an unlucky out, something the coach has been mulling for the past fortnight.

Ty Gallop, Oscar Allen, Darcy Gardiner or even Levi Ashcroft or Jasper Fletcher have been floated as unlucky omissions, such is the embarrassment of options at Fagan's disposal.

"The debate's been does a tall go out, either with a defender or a forward, or whether we take a midfield type out," Fagan said.

"I find it difficult every week when you've got to leave players out, especially when it's guys that have been performing at a good level across the season.

"We'll handle that with all the care that we can, and that player, whoever he is, will understand that that doesn't mean he's not going to get selected for the rest of the final series."