Billy Whizz on the mark

The Maori game will be a test the combative Matt Dawson should relish as he puts his hand up for test consideration. Picture / Reuters

Jason Robinson was one of the stellar turns on the Lions tour of Australia four years ago, but this is the trip he's been waiting for.

The little flier's dazzling try set the first test in 2001 alight, and he bagged England's only try in the World Cup final triumph in Sydney two years ago.

He lost some of his spark in the past year, but is determined to make his mark in New Zealand. He arrived this week with Welsh back utility Gareth Thomas to reinforce Sir Clive Woodward's back options ahead of the first test against the All Blacks on June 25.

Robinson received a late pass to stay back with his pregnant wife, while Thomas, who plays for French side Toulouse, was club-tied until their season ended last weekend.

"If there's any consolation in losing a semifinal it's the fact that the day after you're on a place to join the Lions," Thomas said.

Former league star Robinson, 30, and with 39 England caps behind him, knows securing a test spot isn't going to be easy, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"This is the tour everyone wants to be on," the man nicknamed Billy Whizz said last night.

"Playing in New Zealand, they're great sides out here, and it's going to be very tough. But 45 players into 15 shirts doesn't go, so it's going to be great competition.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to impress and at the end of it my name will be in the test team."

Thomas, the 83-cap veteran who has a Welsh record 35 tries, looms as a strong contender for a spot somewhere in the backline.

But neither player will see action before next Wednesday's match against Wellington.

The side named last night for tomorrow's clash with New Zealand Maori comprises a muscular pack, in which much focus will be on the all-England front row of the massive Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson and Julian White.

After Wednesday night's effort, when the Lions copped some decent shunts from a capable Taranaki pack, they will want to reassert themselves at the set piece.

It will be the first start in New Zealand for nine players, including Scottish No 8 Simon Taylor, who has been plagued by a hamstring strain since before leaving Britain.

He's a classy player who might be the ticket for the No 8 job in the big nights to come, while Martyn Williams gets a second chance to push his openside test case before the return of the suspended Neil Back next week.

The Maori game will be a test the combative Matt Dawson should relish as he puts his hand up for test consideration. He will be up against Piri Weepu, who also enjoys the physical aspects of the game.

Similarly, Stephen Jones, imperious for Wales in their memorable Six Nations charge, has his chance.

And if Gordon D'Arcy dovetails tidily with captain and fellow Irishman Brian O'Driscoll - having had a short stint together towards the end of the Bay of Plenty match - it might be a forerunner of the first test midfield combination.

"We are very much focused on going game by game, working through the combinations and giving each of the guys the opportunity to challenge for test places," Woodward said last night.

* Waikato Stadium, 7.10pm tomorrow

NZ Maori

Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Rua Tipoki, Luke McAlister, Caleb Ralph, David Hill, Piri Weepu, Angus Macdonald, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes (c), Sean Hohneck, Ross Filipo, Carl Hayman, Corey Flynn, Deacon Manu

Lions

Josh Lewsey, Tom Shanklin, B. O'Driscoll (c), Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Matt Dawson, Simon Taylor, Martyn Williams, Richard Hill, Paul O'Connell, Simon Shaw, Julian White, Steve Thompson, Andy Sheridan

Reserves:

NZ Maori: Scott Linklater, Greg Feek, Daniel Braid, Wayne Ormond, Craig McGrath, Carlos Spencer, Neil Brew.

Lions: Shane Byrne, Gethin Jenkins, Ben Kay, Michael Owen, Dwayne Peel, Ronan O'Gara, Shane Horgan.