NOAH Answerth is not a household name, but the availability of Brisbane's shutdown defensive expert could be critical to the outcome of Saturday's preliminary final against Hawthorn.

Answerth badly tweaked his ankle in the qualifying final loss to Sydney, missing the thumping win over Adelaide at the weekend.

So why is he so important to a team that didn't need him when ending the Crows season?

Arguably the Hawks' most dangerous player is Nick Watson, and one of the only men in the AFL to have a modicum of success against the 'Wizard' is Answerth.

When the teams met at the Gabba in round 22, Watson went goalless for the first time in 30 matches, all the while being closely watched by the unheralded Lion.

He did miss a very gettable shot on the run after roving a forward 50 stoppage, but all the same, Answerth made life tough for Watson.

In three games against Brisbane in his young career, the 2026 All-Australian has kicked just one goal, with Answerth also keeping him quiet in a match at the MCG in 2025.

Although it's becoming more impossible by the week to keep the dynamic Hawk out of matches, Answerth is the Lions' best solution.

He didn't run at all last week, but took part in the club's light session on Tuesday and will have to prove himself at main training on Thursday before the two-time premiers head south.

Without Answerth against the Crows, Chris Fagan opted to put Ryan Lester on Josh Rachele, backing his veteran's football smarts and defensive dedication to get the job done.

He was rewarded in spades, with Lester keeping Rachele to one goal from just seven disposals, while getting the ball 18 times himself.

If Answerth's ankle isn't 100 per cent, would Fagan turn to Lester again? Or would the slightly quicker, but less experienced, Darcy Wilmot be trusted with the job?

It's only one match-up, but Answerth's availability and who ends up playing on Watson could have a big say in the outcome of which team heads to the Grand Final.