BRISBANE Lions skipper Tom Rockliff will forgo Thursday's annual Captains' Day in Melbourne to concentrate on his recovery from a hamstring niggle.
While the 17 other AFL captains will meet in Melbourne to help launch the season, Rockliff will be with his teammates in Brisbane doing a full training session.
Vice-captain Pearce Hanley will fill Rockliff's shoes.
Rockliff did not play a NAB Challenge match after withdrawing from Sunday's contest against Greater Western Sydney after a back-related hamstring niggle flared last week.
Despite the mishap, the 26-year-old said last Friday he would be raring to go against West Coast in round one.
"It's not so serious," Rockliff said.
"I am pretty much match conditioned. I have done a fair chunk of the pre-season.
"I have done all the contested stuff and the intra-club (game) – I'll be fine."
Small forward Josh Green will do his first session with the main group on Thursday since suffering a stress reaction in his foot eight weeks ago.
