Brisbane will be without Daniel Merrett for Sunday's clash against North Melbourne.

The defender joins captain Tom Rockliff on the sidelines for the Round 2 fixture, succumbing to a low-grade hamstring strain at training on Thursday.

The Lions have added Michael Close, Matt Maguire, Zac O'Brien, Tom Cutler and Mitch Golby to the team that lost to Collingwood last week.

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Close will add extra firepower alongside fellow youngster Daniel McStay in attack.

"It's something we need to look at because Dan needs some help, he's only a young boy," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said on Thursday.

"We've got pretty much two ruckmen, we don't have a big, strong full-time forward that's at the right age."

Daniel Rich is set to skipper the visiting team in the absence of Rockliff.

Backs M.Paparone 22 M.Maguire 36 J.Clarke 42
Half Backs C.Beams 17 J.Adcock 7 J.McGrath 29
Centreline R.Bewick 8 J.Redden 30 D.Zorko 15
Half Forwards A.Christensen 3 J.Green 6 M.Close 33
Forwards D.McStay 25 S.Martin 12 S.Mayes 32
Followers M.Leuenberger 23 D.Beams 9 M.Robinson 5
Interchange From J.Aish 4 D.Rich 10 T.Cutler 26 L.Taylor 28 R.Lester 35 M.Golby 41 Z.O'Brien 47

In: M.Maguire , M.Golby , M.Close , T.Cutler , Z.O'Brien
Out: D.Merrett (Hamstring) , T.Rockliff (Ribs)