Beams is a certain starter at the Gabba on Thursday after recovering from a migraine which ruled him out of last week's win over the Western Bulldogs.

And the way Brisbane are playing, the Magpies will need him.

Bolstered by the signing of ball magnet Lachie Neale from Fremantle, the Lions have exceeded expectations to sit 3-1 after finishing 15th last season.

Beams sits in the rare position of having switched from both teams. He was drafted to Collingwood in 2009 then sought a trade to Brisbane in 2014 to be closer to his father, who was battling cancer at the time and died last year.

The 29-year-old came full circle when he rejoined the Pies during last year's trade period.

Collingwood have mostly played on Thursday or Friday nights this season, allowing Beams to keep a watchful eye on the Lions' games.

And while there's every chance he'll be booed by the Lions faithful, Beams has been thrilled to see his old side tasting success.

"I actually sit there like a supporter," Beams told reporters on Tuesday.

"I genuinely love watching them do well because I've been there the last four years when times have been tough.

"Last year was a step in the right direction and you could see that things were going to change in turn - it was just a matter of how quickly.

"It's been really nice for me to see the guys that came into the footy club when I was there start to really progress in their careers and take that club forward. Their supporters are loyal and they deserve to see some success."

Beams' addition to a Collingwood engine room already boasting Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams had some commentators labelling it potentially the best midfield ever assembled.

The evidence to date suggests the quartet are a long way off hitting such heights, although Beams noted the midfield unit was still learning to gel.

While thoroughly familiar with 2010 premiership teammates Pendlebury and Sidebottom, Beams had never partnered Adams or Treloar prior to rejoining the Pies and only played alongside ruckman Brodie Grundy sporadically.

"It's just about finding that chemistry," Beams said.

"You can have all the depth in the world but if you can't make it work, there's no point."

Australian Associated Press