THIS MATCH is the second "final trial", the first having taken place in King's Park, Durban, on Wednesday. The Lions players acknowledge as much. One of those who used the term is Rob Kearney, who lines out at fullback in Cape Town this afternoon, writes JOHN O'SULLIVANin Cape Town

He acquitted himself capably on his only other outing, the 74-10 thumping of the Golden Lions. That equated to a down payment on his ambition to make the Test team against the Springboks, but today he must make the final instalment. His main rival, Lee Byrne, remains the favourite to wear the number 15 jersey in Durban this day week, but that’s an assertion Kearney is looking to challenge.

It’s a scenario shared by half a dozen players who take on Western Province this afternoon. The Ireland fullback doesn’t attempt to camouflage his ambition.

“A final trial is exactly what it is. It’s a good position to be in, to have an opportunity of making the Test squad. It is where I wanted to be and to have that opportunity a week before the first Test is great.

“There’s obviously an element of the collective, but individually as players we would be lying if we didn’t admit there’s a massive incentive there. There are Test places up for grabs, a lot riding on it. There’s always the danger that you go out and try and be Superman, and I’ve made that mistake in the past. So what I want to do tomorrow is do the basics, have a consistent game with a bit of counter-attacking.

“And hope that there’ll be a moment, because in big games sometimes all it can take is a big moment to set your stall out for having a big performance.”

Kearney knows that just a “solid” performance won’t suffice, and that there is no mitigation in the fractured end to the regular season he suffered. Contracting mumps, he spent a week in hospital, 13 straight days in bed, and lost a stone in weight. He managed four minutes in the gym on the day he reported back for training and then raced to the toilets to be sick.

He missed the Heineken Cup semi-final win over Munster and managed a late cameo in Leinster’s final victory over Leicester.

But the Lions helped him to focus and his philosophy today is to have no regrets.

It’ll be an attitude shared by ever player in a red jersey. For some, like today’s wings, Ireland’s Tommy Bowe and Harlequins flyer Ugo Monye, they are in pole position, but can’t afford a lacklustre performance.

Welsh outhalf Stephen Jones saw his rival Ronan O’Gara produce a fine performance against the Sharks, so he must try to replicate the authority and direction the Irishman brought to the backline.

Every one of the backs has something to play for, with the possible exception of Riki Flutey, as the centre’s return to fitness from a knee injury has shunted him to the periphery of the Test race. His midfield partner, Keith Earls, knows he could yet make the bench for the first Springbok Test on the back of a high-profile outing today.

Up front, England’s frontrow pillars Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery – the latter captains the Lions at Newlands in the absence of Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll – can make Lions coach Ian McGeechan’s selection decisions less straightforward; so too Nathan Hines and Ireland’s Donncha O’Callaghan, who are paired in the secondrow.

In the backrow, Martyn Williams admits he had lost some ground for the openside flanker berth after being sidelined for a week with a shoulder injury.

The at-times controversial figure of Luke Watson will lead a Western Province team which, while weakened by injury, still contains a few Springboks: wings Tonderai Chavhanga and Gcobani Bobo and outhalf Peter Grant.

Prior to South Africa’s tour to Britain last November, Watson, a son of the prominent anti-apartheid campaigner Cheeky, is alleged to have said he found it difficult not to “vomit” on the Springbok jersey, as he found it so contemptible. He’s occasionally been booed by his fans.

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee was cautiously optimistic about their preparation.

“Ian McGeechan says he expects all the South African teams to be physical. Well, we’re expecting them to come at us as well, and in that respect I’ve been very happy with the way we’ve prepared this week.”

While victory is important in terms of momentum to the Lions, today is for the individual in the greater scheme of events.