Auckland aim to be sole province to beat Lions

Auckland get the chance to further lower the Lions colours at Eden Park tomorrow night, but coach Pat Lam believes the die is already cast in respect of the third test at the same ground four days later.

Lam and captain Justin Collins said Auckland would be motivated purely by their own pride rather than in driving any more nails into the Lions' test coffin.

Collins said the Lions midweek team would have an ethos separate from the test side and would want to build on their smashing of second division Manawatu a week ago.

"I see the Lions as two squads," said Collins.

And Lam said although about half a dozen Lions players would be pushing for places in the test 22, the result and tenor of the match would have no effect on the third test.

"The All Blacks won't be taking any notice of what we're doing. We've seen that they are so clearly superior to the Lions," said Lam.

"For us, this is just a big occasion for Auckland rugby. And some of those older Lions will know that this will be the last time they ever pull on the jersey. They will want to leave on a happy note."

Lam suggested Martyn Williams, Gordon Bulloch, Ben Kay, Simon Shaw, Geordan Murphy and Charlie Hodgson as candidates for the Lions test 22.

Lam meanwhile, has bracketed Junior All Black Ben Atiga with Gavin Williams at centre, with Atiga suffering some injury problems, including to a shoulder.

Wing Joe Rokocoko and prop Saimone Taumoepeau, who played in the Junior All Blacks' Friday night win over Australia A in Sydney, are bracketed with Tony Koonwaiyou and Chris Heard until they can be assessed. Lam will confirm his lineup tomorrow morning.

With Collins taking the captaincy and No 6 jersey, there is no room in the starters for fringe All Black candidate Jerome Kaino. The match will also mark the return of lock Bryce Williams after a shoulder operation.

Auckland has the chance to be the only province to beat the 2005 Lions, and New Zealand Maori loose forwards Angus Macdonald and Daniel Braid will be gunning for second victories over the tourists.

Lions halfback Matt Dawson will start just his second match of the tour.

Dawson has been on the bench for the two tests and made his only tour starting appearance against New Zealand Maori in Hamilton.

Second test reserve Williams will start in the No 7 jersey. Test squad members Martin Corry and Shane Horgan are on the bench.

Scotland loose forward Jason White, called in last week as a replacement, will start in the No 6 jersey in a team captained by his compatriot Bulloch.

* Eden Park, tomorrow 7.10pm

Auckland
Brent Ward
Isa Nacewa
Atiga/Williams
Sam Tuitupou
Joe Rokocoko*
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine
Angus Macdonald
Daniel Braid
Justin Collins (c)
Bryce Williams
Brad Mika
John Afoa
Semisi Telefoni
S. Taumoepeau**

Reserves:
John Fonokalafi, Chris Heard/Nick White, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino; Taniela Moa, Isaia Toe'ava, G. Williams/B. Atiga. *bracketed with Tony Koonwaiyou. ** bracketed with Heard.

Lions:
G. Murphy (I)
Mark Cueto (E)
W. Greenwood (E)
Gordon D'Arcy (I)
Denis Hickie (I)
C. Hodgson (E)
Matt Dawson (E)
Michael Owen (W)
M. Williams (W)
Jason White (S)
Ben Kay (E)
Simon Shaw (E)
John Hayes (I)
G. Bulloch (S, c)
G. Rowntree (E)

Reserves:
Andy Titterrell, Matt Stevens, Brent Cockbain, Martin Corry, Chris Cusiter, Ronan O'Gara, Shane Horgan

- additional reporting NZPA