Lions test places still up for grabs

Depending on who you talk to, tonight's Lions who play Otago are either shaping as the dirt-trackers, or are right in the first-test frame.

The general consensus is that no more than a small handful of tonight's starting XV are realistic candidates for the opening test in Christchurch next weekend.

It seems odd to say that about a Saturday combination, rather than the more usual midweek second-string lineup. But then odd things have happened on this trip.

Captain for the night, Scottish hooker Gordon Bulloch, puts a different slant on it.

"The guys who pull on the jersey tomorrow night, I'd much rather be in that position than sitting in the stands," he said. "You get a chance to stamp your authority, to control your own destiny. If we put in a good performance, certainly we put our names in the reckoning."

Which is certainly true, but the first order of business will be to beat an Otago side which has a couple of shortcomings but has the potential to put a big spoke in the Lions' progress.

Otago is New Zealand's most successful province against the Lions, having won four of seven clashes since 1930.

There are 13 Highlanders in the starting XV, although they are light in the front row, with no Carl Hayman or Anton Oliver, and the back three, Glen Horton, Matt Saunders and Hayden Pedersen, has pace but is prone to bouts of flakiness.

Elsewhere they look a decent outfit. Again, the Lions should win. That's what international teams are supposed to do.

"All the guys are here because they can play rugby, they've got good skills and it's important for us to gel together and make things work," Bulloch added.

There's no doubt he's right on the first two counts, but forging combinations has been hard for the Lions on tour.

Otago's preparation time has been limited, but with that Highlanders experience they know what they're about.

It is a big game for Nick Evans, who will want to enhance his credentials with the All Black selectors.

Up front, Tom Donnelly and Filipo Levi are hardworking locks, and the loose forward trio is strong.

Coach Wayne Graham says the key to beating international teams is genuine belief.

"And you throw everything at them," he said. "It is an intensity thing, being able to play smart rugby for 80 minutes, because the pace of the game does step up."

Graham doesn't expect to see anything different from the Lions tonight.

"They play a percentage game and like the contact. We've been waiting to see if there are different types of games from different teams, but it looks as though it's much the same week in, week out."

Captain Craig Newby talked of the need to emulate the New Zealand Maori performance for the whole match. He knows the contentious breakdown area has been a special focus during the tour.

He acknowledged it was one area Otago, who have two pacey flankers in Josh Blackie and himself, will look to gain mileage from.

The Lions have been forced to make a late change. Lewis Moody, their quickest flanker, is out with a leg injury. Irishman Simon Easterby, who made a good fist of his first outing against Wellington, comes in.

Evans dwelt on the importance of carrying on Otago's legacy tonight.

"We've got to know what guys have left out on Carisbrook.

"It's like a responsibility. We can't go out there and not produce our best game."

Which sounds a lot like Bulloch's final words to his players tonight.