IT MIGHT be the toughest year of Hugh McCluggage's career, but Harris Andrews expects his fellow Brisbane co-captain to have an immediate impact when he returns against Sydney in Saturday's qualifying final.

McCluggage has played just 13 games in 2026 due to recurring calf problems and missed the final three games of the home-away-season.

The 28-year-old trained at Springfield's Brighton Homes Arena on Tuesday and is expected to come back into the Lions' 23 to face the Swans.

Andrews said he had no idea who would make way for McCluggage but was adamant the midfield ace would regain his spot.

"He's our best player," Andrews said.

"He's had a bit of an interrupted year with injury and his body letting him down, but as a teammate, I've seen the work he's put in, particularly over the last couple of weeks, to get himself right.

"He's been an unbelievable footballer for us for a long period of time, so it’s a challenge for the coaches to fit everyone in but it's one that we're happy to have, and ultimately it's going to make us a better team going forward.

"I couldn't be more confident that he's going to come in and make a real impact."

McCluggage missed just a handful of matches over the first nine seasons of his career and has had to deal with four separate setbacks this year.

Andrews said it had been a great "growth" year for the 2025 All-Australian, lauding his leadership around the club.

"He's so classy in the front half of the ground. He works super hard offensively to make the ground really big and is just so creative in the front half.

"Something that probably goes under-rated is his defensive pressure. He's a great tackler, one of our great tacklers alongside 'Dunks' (Josh Dunkley). 

"He's a great pressure player as well, and his leadership's incredible. I'd be absolutely stoked to have him back out there, and I imagine he probably will find his way back into the team."