BRISBANE could get the first two picks at this year’s national draft.

The last-placed Lions expect to have their request for a priority pick rejected by the AFL.

But speculation within the football industry is mounting that Brisbane are a chance to get the No.2 draft selection, as a compensation pick for losing free agent ruckman Matthew Leuenberger.

If it eventuates, the move would spark outrage from rival clubs.

But there is a recent precedent for the helping hand, with Melbourne given pick three in last year’s draft as compensation for losing key defender James Frawley to Hawthorn.

Combined with pick two for finishing 17th, the Demons recruited young gun midfielders Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw.

Brisbane would pounce on key forward Josh Schache and key defender Jacob Weitering with the first two selections.

media_camera Joshua Schache gets cleaned up by Justin Evans after taking a mark. Picture: Colleen Petch

They have been mooted as the best two in the draft all year and would give Brisbane long-term bookends to build a team around.

Brisbane would also use what they get in a trade for midfielder James Aish to help secure top Lions Academy prospects Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood.

That would give Brisbane four All-Australian under-18 players in the one draft class.

Leuenberger is being courted by Geelong, Sydney and Essendon.

While he has been hit hard by injuries, the 27-year-old was a No.4 draft pick in 2006 and when fit and firing, is in the upper echelon of ruckman in the AFL.

Brisbane would have no hesitation in recruiting Weitering even though he is managed by Liam Pickering, who also acts for Aish.

Collingwood or Carlton are the likely destinations for Aish, after just two seasons at the Gabba.

media_camera Brisbane academy players Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays and Jacob Allison with AIS/AFL academy coach Brenton Sanderson. Picture: Darren England.

Should Brisbane lose to Carlton in tomorrow night’s cellar-dweller duel at the Gabba, they will be six points behind Gold Coast and eight points behind the Blues with three rounds to play.

Given the Lions take on Adelaide, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs in the run home, the Blues represent their last realistic chance of a win this year.

But coach Justin Leppitsch desperately wants to avoid having a wooden spoon on his resume.

He is also loath to use the prospect of finishing last as motivation to perform.

“I don’t want to finish last, the team don’t want to finish last. We are just there to win … we keep trying to win every week,’’ Leppitsch said

“Whilst you sit there (last), that’s all everyone wants to talk about. We don’t talk about it internally.’’

Leppitsch hopes the hard yards of 2015 will reap dividends in the long term.

“The only thing people ever remember in 10, 20, 30, 40 years’ time is how many premierships you won,’’ he said.

Originally published as Lions targeting one-two draft punch