Recognising that perhaps things have got slightly out of hand, the Australian coach, Rod Macqueen, appeared to be adopting a more conciliatory approach toward the Lions yesterday when the Wallabies threw open their doors to the travelling press corps and almost embraced them with their co-operative approach. This was an entente cordial.

The charm offensive began almost immediately after the squad of 22 for next Saturday's first Test in Brisbane was announced, and Macqueen did not allow the Lions' spate of injury woes to alter his viewpoint that the tourists are "the best prepared side that have ever hit the Australian shores, and they've done nothing to change my mind about that.

"They're a very strong all-round side and they've got a lot of athleticism, talent and speed in their backs and we're expecting a really tough match."

Macqueen has slight concerns about the Wallabies' preparations, as many of his players haven't had a game for up to six weeks in some cases, but their one preparatory game against the New Zealand Maoris was superior in terms of Test match intensity and quality than any game the Lions have undergone, and he conceded: "We're reasonably happy with our preparations and we really are looking forward to what we think will be a great spectacle."

And therein lay the key message of the day. The Wallabies were not looking for a payback from 1989.

"We certainly are looking forward to a good Test match. From the Wallabies' point of view we're a team that's always wanted to play rugby of the highest standards, we've got the utmost respect for this Lions team and their management, and I've certainly got no doubts that it will be a great game and both teams will be looking to play it in the right spirit."

The Wallabies aren't world champions by chance, and no think tank has been cuter when it comes to interpreting and bending the rules: reducing the scrum to a league-style format for merely restarting the game, crossing/obstruction in midfield and so forth. Which helps to explain the Lions' indignation at the somewhat rich barbs being thrown at them from all angles. Here again though, such was the change of approach that Macqueen even owned up to some cheating by his lot in the past.

Literally laughing off his own critiques of Lions' illegalities on tour, Macqueen reckoned his only comment concerned the tourists' lineout.

"And I think that's a fairly normal thing to do, if you can get away with that you always do. We certainly have been guilty of that from time to time too, but I don't think there are any majors there. That's what referees are in place for. From our point of view we're very relaxed coming into the Tests as far as that side of things is concerned.

"We're certainly not relaxed regarding the quality of game that we think it's going to be. We know that if we're to be successful we're going to have to play the best football we have ever played as a team. We've obviously been talking about that a lot lately."

Macqueen was flanked by about 15 of his squad, an imposing sight and a statement of the Wallabies media friendly nature on their open days (showing less can be more). John Eales scarcely concealed how much it mattered to him and his team.

"It's something this team has focused on for a long period of time. The uniqueness of it is one quality that is different to any other thing you do in rugby. Even World Cups are every four years. For Australia, a Lions series is only once every 12 years, so it's a once in a career opportunity, so it is right up there."

The announcement of the 22-man squad confirmed the return of flankers Matt Cockbain after a skin infection and Owen Finegan from suspension, as well as Joe Roff from an ankle injury, and includes two uncapped players in props Nick Stiles and Ben Darwin.

The Wallaby starting line-up is not expected to contain many surprises. Up front, Stiles is expected to start at loosehead, while Macqueen has already stated that Jeremy Paul's time is now.

Behind the pack, the main question on foot of Roff's expected recall is whether to retain Elton Flatley as goalkicker at inside centre and the thrilling Aboriginal winger Andrew Walker to the exclusion of Matt Burke, or play the latter and Nathan Grey at inside centre. Flatley and Walker are expected to start.

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD (for first Test): Forwards: Cockbain, Darwin, Eales (capt), Finegan, Foley, Giffin, Kefu, Lyons, Panoho, Paul, Smith, Stiles. Backs: Burke, Flatley, Gregan (vice-capt), Grey, Herbert, Latham, Larkham, Roff, Walker, Whitaker.