Andy Powell has offered a ringing endorsement of the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad as he prepares for Saturday's tour opener in Rustenburg.
Powell, who will pack down in the backrow alongside Joe Worsley and Martyn Williams against a Royal XV side tomorrow, says everyone is thinking of the common good.
"It is probably the best squad I've been in," said the Wales and Cardiff Blues number eight. "There are no mes - it is all we."
While the Lions are expected to open with a win at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, they also want to send out a statement of intent with their performance.
"We need to gel quickly," added Powell, one of 14 first-time Lions tourists in the match-day squad. "A tour like this is the Everest of your career, and I am really looking forward to the challenge.
"My patience has been tested over the last few years, coming back from two shoulder operations, but I have stuck with it and worked hard.
"It is about how you work through the bad times."
Lock Paul O'Connell leads a Lions side comprising four Irishmen, seven Welsh, England forwards Andrew Sheridan, Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley, plus solitary Scot Mike Blair.
It includes an all-Ospreys back three of Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams, a youthful centre combination in Jamie Roberts and Keith Earls and an early opportunity for Ireland Grand Slam outhalf Ronan O'Gara.
All seven of the players, meanwhile, who were involved in European finals last weekend - including Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll - are set for tour bows either against the Golden Lions next Wednesday or the Cheetahs three days later.
