Australia have dropped World Cup record scorer Matthew Burke for their opening match of the season against New Zealand Maori.
Burke, who scored a record 25 points in Australia's 1999 World Cup final win over France, was dropped for the first time in seven years after the Wallaby selectors went for Chris Latham at fullback and Andrew Walker and Joe Roff on the wings.
"This is an important game for us and we have to pick players on form," Australia coach Rod Macqueen said.
"It's important that we hit the ground running this year and the players who have been chosen are the form players at the moment."
Australia are using the one-off match at the Sydney Football Stadium as a warm-up for the series against the Lions but the match is expected to be anything but friendly.
In the Lions camp, coach Graham Henry has singled out Brian O'Driscoll as one of his main threats for the three test series.
"I don't to blow the guy out of the water, but when he matures he's going to be something special," he said today.
He said the one single quality that marked out the player was his anticipation. "He gets in the right places at the right time," Henry said. "He sniffs out opportunities. It's the sign of a gifted player."
O'Driscoll has been selected at full-back for the first time for tomorrow’s tour opener against Western Australia to give the Lions an extra option if ever the need arose.
Teams for Australia New v Zealand Maori
Australia: 15-Chris Latham; 14-Andrew Walker, 13-Daniel Herbert, 12-Elton Flatley, 11-Joe Roff; 10-Stephen Larkham, 9-George Gregan; 8-Toutai Kefu, 7-George Smith, 6-Matt Cockbain, 5-John Eales (captain), 4-David Giffin; 3-Glenn Panoho, 2-Jeremy Paul, 1-Nick Stiles.
New Zealand Maori: 15-Carlos Spencer; 14-Roger Randle, 13-Caleb Ralph, 12-Daryl Gibson, 11-Bruce Reihana; 10-Glen Jackson, 9-Rhys Duggan; 8-Deon Muir (captain), 7-Taine Randell, 6-Troy Flavell, 5-Mark Cooksley, 4-Norm Maxwell, 3-Deacon Manu, 2-Norm Hewitt, 1-Greg Feek.