Memories hold no fear for Jonny

England's Jonny Wilkinson will make his Lions debut against Queensland in Brisbane on Saturday in front of the fans who witnessed his biggest rugby humiliation.

Wilkinson, then a fresh-faced teenager, was in the England team hammered 76-0 by Australia in Brisbane. Three years later he returns as the prospective Lions Test outside-half.

Far from erasing that dire match from his memory, Wilkinson has chosen to make it a motivating factor in his record-breaking career.

The man with the deadliest boot in international rugby said: "That England game is a huge part of why things have gone in a particular direction. I am never shy about talking about that defeat and if I hadn't played things could have been very different.

"I may not have been given this opportunity with the Lions, and I feel pressure to do the Lions the proud.

"I want to do myself and the team justice. I did my best in that England match but sometimes things are out of your control and you end up on the losing side.

"This time it will be very different and this is a very different team I am part of."

Wilkinson has recovered from neck and groin injuries to claim a place in what looks like the potential Lions Test line-up. The team includes captain Martin Johnson, who is also making his tour debut in this third match of a schedule which has already produced two wins, 199 points and 31 tries. Only Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt have yet to play and they are pencilled in against Australia A next week.

Lions coach Graham Henry denies this is the shadow Test side but it will shock everyone if the team that lines up against Australia on 30 June is markedly different.

Captain Johnson was given extra time to recover following Leicester's European triumph and now he gets the chance to go head-to-head with Australian captain, John Eales, in charge of Queensland.

The Queensland side reached the semi-finals of the Super 12 and will be a much tougher proposition for the Lions.

Johnson said: "I was disappointed not to be in the first match and it's difficult watching matches.

"This is a very important game for the tour and many observers are calling it the fourth Test match.

"It will mean that everyone in the team will have to step-up a level and we are ready to do that. We've already scored 31 tries but Queensland are a far better team than anything we have faced so far. They have a lot of experience and include nine Wallabies and that shows you just what kind of challenge we face."

The Lions have chosen two experienced combinations to help hold together a powerful-looking side including eight England players.

Johnson is joined at lock by his England partner Danny Grewcock, while the centre combination is from Ireland.

Rob Henderson, hat-trick scorer in the last match, and Brian O'Driscoll get the opportunity to convince the selectors that they are the answer to the mid-field question.

It will be up to Wilkinson to pull the attacking strings and if this mid-field combination works out it would seem certain to re-appear for the First Test.

Dan Luger makes a second appearance on tour and will be aiming to show that Jason Robinson, who scored five tries last night, does not have a Test place sewn-up.

Welshman Dafydd James is on the other wing while the full back position goes to Iain Balshaw, the man the Australians fear most.

Austin Healey has to be content with another appearance on the replacement bench although he has been promised a start next week. Healey is too valuable to stay out of the match squad but he is desperate to prove that he is more than just an impact player.

Lions team v Queensland

I Balshaw (Eng), D James (Wales), B O'Driscoll (Ire), R Henderson (Ire), D Luger (Eng), J Wilkinson (Eng), R Howley (Wales), T Smith (Scot), K Wood (Ire), P Vickery (Eng), M Johnson (Eng, captain), D Grewcock (Eng), R Hill (Eng), N Back (Eng), S Quinnell (Wales).

Replacements: J Leonard (Eng), G Bulloch (Scot), M Corry (Eng), C Charvis (Wales), M Dawson (Eng), A Healey (Eng), J Robinson (Eng).