The sense that the tour is about to witness its first truly competitive match and first proper sense of occasion was re-enforced by Ewen McKenzie’s strong selection for what will be a 52,000 sell-out at the magnificent Suncorp Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm/10.30am Irish).

Despite being without seven current Wallaby squad members (Will Genia, locks James Horwill and Rob Simmons, flanker Liam Gill, prop James Slipper, hooker Saia Fainga’a as well as the injured Digby Ioane) the Reds team still contains nine Wallabies in their starting line-up and three more on the bench who have a total of 127 caps between them.

“Playing against The British & Irish Lions is a once in a career type opportunity, so to be running out in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium crowd on Saturday night will be an experience these 23 players will never forget,” said McKenzie. “Our approach was always going to be to field as strong a line-up as possible, and I’ve got every confidence in the group we’ve chosen to go out and compete against a very talented Lions squad.”

The Reds will be endeavouring to become the first Australian provincial team to beat The British & Irish Lions in a tour-game since Queensland famously defeated their rivals 15-11 in their opening tour game of 1971. The loss was only one of two experienced by The British & Irish Lions during their 26-game 1971 tour with the All Blacks also successful in their second Test match as part of a four-game series.Ed O'Donoghue, the London-born lock of Irish parents who has played for Ireland A during his three years with Ulster and Leinster, plays for the Reds as a foreign player.
Reds: B Lucas; R Davies, B Tapaui, A Faingaa, L Morahan; Q Cooper, N Frisby; B Daley, J Hanson, G Holmes, A Wallace-Harrison, E O'Donoghue, E Quirk, B Robinson, J Schatz. Replacements: A Anae, S Denny, J Owen, R Samo, J Butler, J Lance, M Harris, D Shipperley.