The Lions arrive on Wednesday and play their first game on Saturday in Whangarei.
All the conjecture, assumptions and speculation is about to get aired as coach Warren Gatland and his troops look to cast aside the 2005 results and ill-feeling from that visit in their bid to dethrone the All Blacks.
For the last week, the Lions have been in camp west of Dublin with the coaching staff and about 30 players who will make the trip for the 10-game three-test tour.
Those numbers were higher than expected because Ospreys, Saracens and Leinster were bumped out of their competitions and defence coach Andy Farrell explained they'd been able to make some good progress with their plans. It also meant the bulk of the side to play the Barbarians in the opening match would come from those who'd been to the training camps with those involved in this weekend's Pro12 and Premiership games given some respite.
Burly No8 Billy Vunipola became the second casualty because of a shoulder injury and was replaced by James Haskell but halfbacks Conor Murray, Rhys Webb and Greig Laidlaw all attended to drive the team's style and strategy.