Owen vows to lift outcast Lions tonight

Michael Owen has flown halfway around the world and back, watched his daughter being born and had his Lions first rugby test chances extinguished -- all in little over a week.

Now the Welsh No 8 has to help pick up his and 21 other players' lips from the dressing room floor and prove a point against a willing Southland side in Invercargill tonight.

Owen will captain the Lions midweek side who flew in yesterday without the test 22 who remain bunkered down in Christchurch for Saturday's first test.

It has been a whirlwind tour for Owen, who stormed into test contention against Taranaki, flew first-class to Cardiff for the birth, and arrived back in Dunedin on Thursday just in time to see fellow Welshman Ryan Jones leapfrog him into the test squad.

"Everyone's obviously really disappointed because everyone came here to make the test side," Owen said.

"We've got a big game to bounce back and show the character we have in the squad.

"I certainly feel I want to try and prove the selectors wrong, that they made the wrong decision in not picking me.

"You've got to move on and deal with it. At least we've got a game to play, if we didn't have a game it would be a nightmare, you wouldn't have any outlet for your frustration."

Being a good team man, Owen wouldn't begrudge Jones his day in the sun after he starred in the 30-19 win over Otago on Saturday.

He said it was "brilliant for him" to take the opportunity, and said Jones deserved it.

Owen admitted after the amazing experience of being with wife Lucy for the birth of their second child, this was a bizarre feeling.

"I came back and felt fine, I haven't had any ill effects so I'm ready to go now to try and get a test spot before the end of the tour.

"It's very difficult being away from my family, especially at a time like this with a new baby. All I can do is try to play well and make them proud of me."

Southland have beaten the Lions twice in eight matches, but have only played once together this season -- an 8-17 loss to Otago.

They have a useful forward pack and last year's All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan, but Lions assistant coach Gareth Jenkins observed a potential area to attack.

"They're a very organised defensive team and their units work well. I don't know how much physicality they've got.

"If there's an advantage we've got it may be our physical stature and forward game."

Jenkins said second five-eighth Gavin Henson, the unluckiest player to miss test selection, should relish the opportunity to "make a statement" tonight.

Others who could come into test contention later in the series are bench prop Andy Sheridan and fullback Geordan Murphy.

Key Southland forward Paul Miller is one of six players from Super 12 side the Highlanders this year. He said emotion would carry them only so far.

"It's going to come down to a lot of composure during the game. It's a first hit-out for us against a quality side," Miller said.

"We've really got to come together, compose ourselves because the atmosphere will be electric, and loud. We've tried to be pretty low key."

Southland assistant coach Simon Culhane, who was part of the 16-34 loss to the Lions here in 1993, said they had stayed loyal to the locals and resisted the urge to call in fringe Otago players.

"Hopefully they do themselves justice on the big stage. They thoroughly deserve their chance."

- NZPA