Bay of Plenty v Lions Rotorua Stadium, 8.10am  The pungent, sulphuric air of Rotorua's geysers seems an appropriate place for the Lions to be finally letting off a little steam on their tour opener.

Against Argentina the Lions were assuredly held back by a subconscious desire not to have their tour ended before even getting on the plane, but there will be little temptation to hold back against Bay of Plenty today.

This will be the first true test of Clive Woodward's meticulous preparation. The 22-man squad have been working with Andy Robinson, Eddie O'Sullivan and Phil Larder for the last few days and there should be a good deal more cohesion to their play than we saw against Argentina last Monday week.

"We're obviously looking for a much better performance than we did on that first night, but a lot of that, I think, was down to sheer excitement," said Woodward.

It was a theme O'Sullivan echoed when claiming the team that played Argentina was affected by "a mix of enthusiasm and anxiety", as well as being undercooked.

O'Sullivan had little doubt Bay of Plenty would prove a barometer for the ultra-physical challenge facing the Lions in the following 10 matches.

"The one thing about New Zealand rugby is that it is very physical, very aggressive, very in your face, and that's the first marker that is thrown down."

Woodward, meanwhile, qualified his earlier comment that today's selection was a "very strong" one: "I don't see this as a particularly strong team. I see it as no different from the team which plays next Wednesday, or against the Maoris. We're still on a learning process."

History has taught us Lions tours are constantly evolving and ever-changing odysseys. That's their beauty.

Yet this selection does appear to be close to whatever team lines up in the Jade Stadium in Christchurch on June 25th, which heightens the need to lay down a winning marker.

BAY OF PLENTY: A Cashmore; F Bolavucu, A Bunting, G McQuoid, A Tahana; M Williams, K Senio; S Davison, A Lutui, B Castle, M Sorenson, B Upton, W Ormond (capt), N Latu, C Bourke. Replacements: J Pareanga, T Filise, P Tupai, W Smith, C Hubbard, R Moon, A Stewart.

LIONS: J Lewsey (England); M Cueto (England), B O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), G Henson (Wales), T Shanklin (Wales); R O'Gara (Ireland), D Peel (Wales); G Jenkins (Wales), G Bulloch (Scotland), M Stevens (England), P O'Connell (Ireland), B Kay (England), R Hill (England), M Williams (Wales), L Dallaglio (Wasps). Replacements: S Thompson (England), A Sheridan (England), D O'Callaghan (Ireland), M Corry (England), M Dawson (England), C Hodgson (England), G D'Arcy (Ireland).

Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand).