GOLD Coast's midfield has been devastated by injuries and the Brisbane Lions believe they can pounce in Saturday's QClash.

Effort and desperation are two words both camps have bandied around all week, but it's hard to look beyond the quality midfielders who are missing when you get to the nuts and bolts.

Before the season both teams rightfully talked up their engine rooms, but through a combination of injuries and poor form have been huge disappointments and a major reason why they are winless so far. 

With no disrespect to Dion Prestia and particularly Michael Rischitelli – who has been a pillar of strength in the opening month – the Suns are minus their three best ball-winners.

Jaeger O'Meara (knee) is out for the year, captain Gary Ablett (shoulder) is at least another week or two away and reigning best and fairest David Swallow (knee) will be missing for eight to 10 weeks.

The Lions' midfield has also been hit by injury. Not only is the reigning Marcus Ashcroft medallist Pearce Hanley (hip) out for another six to eight weeks but captain Tom Rockliff missed two games with broken ribs and was severely hampered when he returned to the field last week. 

Rockliff will resume his usual midfield role at Metricon Stadium, but there is still a question mark over how effective he will be. 

It's added up to both teams being beaten at the stoppages and their general lack of effort being exposed on the outside.

But with Swallow's injury further robbing the Suns of their midfield grunt, Lions utility Rohan Bewick says there is a chink in an already battered Gold Coast armour. 

"We feel we've definitely got the talent to get over the top of them (in the midfield)," Bewick told AFL.com.au.

"They are missing a few players. It's not like we can take it easy because they're missing Swallow … we've got to back our midfielders in to beat theirs." 

Bewick reiterated his coach Justin Leppitsch's comments that the Lions have worked hard during the week on not just getting their hands on the ball first at stoppages but turning it into a clearance.

Leppitsch said they have fumbled too much and Bewick agreed, saying they needed to be stronger in tackles. 

Lions small forward Josh Green pointed out the Suns are still well stacked in the middle of the ground.

He pointed to Prestia and inconsistent match-winner Harley Bennell as danger men.

With wet weather forecast and heavy conditions expected, even more so than ever, this ninth edition of the QClash looks set to be won in the middle of the ground.

Just who covers best for their missing – and misfiring – stars will go a long way towards determining who chalks up their first win of 2015.