BRISBANE will share centre stage on the biggest day of the AFL home-and-away season in 2014.

The Lions will play St Kilda in Wellington on Anzac Day as part of the blockbuster double-header that includes the traditional clash between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG.

The Saints played Sydney in the New Zealand capital this year in the first-ever AFL premiership match on foreign soil as part of a five-year deal to take games to Wellington.

To be a part of the Friday night showcase match is a legitimate coup for Brisbane given Anzac Day is the second-biggest day on the AFL calender after grand final day and the Lions have spent little time in the spotlight of marquee matches in recent seasons.

MILNE TO PLAY BUSH FOOTY IN 2014

The AFL will release the 2014 fixture later this week and details of the draw are tightly guarded but The Courier-Mail understands that Brisbane have been working closely with the governing body for months to be a part of the New Zealand match.

After a tumultuous off-season, Brisbane will have the toughest possible start to the 2014 premiership when they take on reigning premier Hawthorn in Launceston in Round 1.

The Tasmanian ground has been a fortress for the Hawks so new senior coach Justin Leppitsch will face a baptism of fire in his first premiership match as Brisbane boss.

POLEC COPS A SPRAY FROM LIONS

Hawthorn thumped Brisbane by 58 points in Launceston in Round 14 last season but the Lions have enjoyed some success at Aurora Stadium.

The Lions upset the Hawks in Launceston in 2009 when Leppitsch was an assistant coach with Brisbane.

Brisbane officials declined to comment on the make-up of the draw.

Meanwhile, former Brisbane senior coach Michael Voss is set to spend 2014 in the media before looking to re-enter coaching in some capacity in 2015.

Highly-rated football analyst Jarrod Harkness has left the Lions coaching staff to join Collingwood.