If they are to remain a meaningful entity, they have to be given some kind of sensible opportunity to prove their worth.
The danger here is that the best squad they have assembled maybe in their history, leaves New Zealand with their tail between their legs.
Looking through the schedule picking where the might win isn't easy.
They will surely enjoy a victory in Whangarei, but that could be it.
The Blues, for all that they are ridiculed in New Zealand for not being up to it, are in fact a quality rugby side. They would sit easily within the playoffs but for Super Rugby's ridiculous system.
It's hardly going to be easy for the Lions playing a side that will most likely field Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, George Moala and Patrick Tuipulotu.
The Crusaders would probably beat most international sides at the moment and their All Blacks contingent all want to be involved.
It will mean as much to the likes of Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks to play the Lions in a Crusaders jersey as it will when they are playing for the All Blacks.
Even without their All Blacks, the Highlanders will be enormously difficult to beat on a pitch that catches out everyone who has never played on it before.
The prospect of the Lions losing to all three is real and the Maori, Chiefs and Hurricanes could all pile on their misery.
A tour that sees the Lions lose more than half their games won't be a fair reflection of what they are bringing to New Zealand.
This is potentially a great rugby side, capable of taking the All Blacks to the wire and beating them once, if not twice.
But until someone can shorten the northern hemisphere club season, the Lions are going to be on mission impossible and made to look well below the true class they carry.
"We don't mind the schedule at all," said Lions tour manager John Spencer. "It would be a pointless exercise coming to New Zealand to play the best team in the world, and trying to play them having played mediocre opposition.
"So the fact that we're playing Super Rugby sides is exactly what the coaches want, to prepare sides for the tests.
"The only thing we're disappointed in on the domestic side is the preparation time. We're trying to fit six weeks' preparation into a couple of weeks with only part of our squad," said Spencer.
"So that aspect is disappointing, but that's our lot, that's what we have to react to."
