With their captain Tom Rockcliff sidelined for up to two months, the Lions may look to elevated rookie Zac O’Brien to fill the void.

The 24-year-old joined Brisbane in 2013 after a solid season in the VFL and was added to the senior list immediately after the Lions’ loss to Collingwood on Saturday night.

"He has been unlucky, being a rookie probably kept him out of the side while we went with players we knew we could use,” Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said.

"But he is available now and is a strong chance to play this week."

Rockliff suffered cracked ribs and punctured lung after a heavy collision with Collingwood’s Travis Varcoe at the GABBA.

Vice captains Daniel Rich and Dayne Zorko will assume captaincy duties for the upcoming clash with the Roos at Etihad on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions were already wounded going into round one with Irishman Pearce Hanley out with a hip injury and were stunned with a 12-point defeat to the Magpies.

"We got smashed in contested footy, plain and simple," Rockliff told the Lions' website.

"It's something that was a major focus all preseason, so to have a massive crowd turn out and then to play like that is unacceptable, even if we fought back late.

"We all take ownership of that and we know what we have to do to turn it around."

Like North, the Lions will be looking to rebound hard and get their season back on track.