KEY POINTS:
The Blues have spent much of this week in the classroom rather than on the training field, reinforcing the lessons they were shown when they botched their last campaign in South Africa.
They claim they are more astute after a meltdown at home last year against the Sharks then twin defeats in South Africa - results which eventually cost the Blues semifinal hosting rights and a play-off loss in the Republic.
Those defeats were grisly episodes as the Blues' challenge for the title expired while the franchise also had to deal with the fallout after lock Ali Williams was expelled from the tour party.
This time the Blues have travelled to the Republic early in the draw with coach David Nucifora retaining the side which beat the Chiefs in round one for the challenge of the Lions at Ellis Park tomorrow.
However in a concession to the demands of travel, getting over the effects of a physical opening match, the altitude in Johannesburg and the need to preserve his squad throughout the lengthy schedule, Nucifora limited practice to a couple of brief stints.
"We've done a fair bit of work off the field trying to get ourselves ready and across how we want to play and we've kept the physical side pretty low key," he said.
The Lions gained some confidence from their narrow kick-fest away victory against the Cheetahs last week but have been posting warning noises about the problems in handling the mobility, pace and power of the Blues.
The Lions will try to disrupt the Blues' rhythm with their kick-chase tactics while they will also want to engage the visitors heavily at close quarters and in set-pieces.
Nucifora said that was a fairly standard approach from South African sides and his side was prepared for that change after all the movement in the Eden Park victory against the Chiefs.
"But we feel we have learned from our experiences last year and tactically we'll be a bit more astute than we were 12 months ago," the coach added.
The Blues also have the advantage of Nick Evans' organisation at first five-eighths and his controlled kicking game which proved such a weapon against the Chiefs.
However the Blues' new recruit hoped he would not get sidetracked into a relentless kicking duel with his rivals, he had to be more shrewd than that.
"I will be looking for space more, looking for room, it is a case of trying to manipulate the defence," he said. Nucifora mentioned similar judgments for the forwards.
He was impressed by the Blues scrum last week and wanted to retain those standards while emphasising to his players that they needed to show more patience, discipline and ball-control in picking the prudent times to attack.
Australian referee Stuart Dickinson will control the match but has had limited preparation with the new experimental law variations.
South African sides have a phobia about Dickinson anyway, so the Blues should work hard to get on the same wavelength as the match official.
BLUES
Isa Nacewa
Anthony Tuitavake
Isaia Toeva
Benson Stanley
Joe Rokocoko
Nick Evans
Danny Lee
Nick Williams
Justin Collins
Jerome Kaino
Troy Flavell (c)
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock
LIONS
Louis Ludik
Dusty Noble
Jaco Pretorius
D. la Grange
Rayno Benjamin
Louis Strydom
Jano Vermaak
Willem Alberts
F. van der Merwe
C. Grobbelaar (c)
Gerhard Mostert
Anton van Zyl
Ross Geldenhuys
Willie Wepener
H. van der Merwe
Blues: Tom McCartney, Nick White, Bryn Evans, Onosa's Tololima-Auva'a, Taniela Moa, Ben Atiga, Rudi Wulf.
Lions: Gavin Williamson, Gert Andries van der Merwe, Alten Hulme, Joe van Niekerk, Chris Jonck, Earl Rose, Jaco van Schalkwyk
Loftus Versfeld, 6.05am tomorrow
