BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss said he remains cautious about blooding too many youngsters after naming Matt Austin to take on Adelaide on Saturday night - the club's third debutant for the season.

Austin, 20, comes in to replace Troy Selwood who is still recovering from last weekend's sickening head clash with Richmond's Alex Rance.

He joins Daniel Rich (round one) and Sam Sheldon (round six) as Lions to debut in season 2009.

Voss said while he is keen to bring new players into the team, he has reached a limit at this stage of the year.

“They bring that genuine enthusiasm to the team,” he said of the younger players on Friday before the team trained at the Gabba.

“At the same time you've got to be careful of how many you do have in one particular team.

“You've got to blend the experience and the youth at the same time so we've maxed out (on youth) as much as we want to be at this particular stage.

“But to be able to get some games into these guys for reward ... they've worked their backside off to get this opportunity.”

The first-year coach is very conscious of keeping a healthy mix of experience, not only in the team as a whole, but also across the field.

“You want to have a blend of experience and you want to have a blend of youth on every line, but I don't think you want to have three or four in one particular area, we're not at that stage of our development as a football club,” he said.

“Yet we've got some youngsters there that are really putting their hand up.

“But when they cross the white line they're treated like everyone else, whether you've played one game or played 100, you've still got to be able to perform.

“We're also mindful of the fact you can't put them out there and set them up to not succeed but we feel we've done that OK (with our young players) so far.''

Austin has been strong across half forward and in the midfield for the Lions reserves so far this season and Voss said his ball use and awareness had earned him the call-up.

His advice for the first-gamer was the same as it had been for Rich and Sheldon.

“I think the very first time you run out in the game, the very first lap you run, just look around the stands, just have a look and get that exciting feeling because that first six steps you don't feel,” he said.

“Enjoy it. Just go out there and have a lot of fun and do exactly what got you there in the first place.'”

Voss said he heeded advice from the Lions' doctor that Selwood was still suffering headaches and opted to give the rugged defender an extra week to recover.

The other player in line for selection this weekend was livewire forward Rhan Hooper, who returned from a month-long injury lay-off in the reserves last week and kicked four goals.

Voss said the goalsneak needed another week in the twos to get a full game under his belt before he could be considered for senior selection.