The British & Irish Lions play their final match before the start of the Test series this weekend as they line up against an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide.

Andy Farrell’s side currently have four wins from four on Australian soil and a fifth straight victory would set them up very nicely for next weekend’s opener against the Wallabies.

The tourists are taking on a side packed with internationals, with Queensland Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Crusaders centre David Havili co-captaining the team, returning for the first time since 1989.

On that occasion, the Lions won 19-15 in Canberra and the current crop will hope to repeat the feat and stake their individual claims for a spot in the coveted matchday squad in Brisbane next weekend.

Tadhg Beirne captains the Lions on Saturday, as he did against NSW Waratahs, while Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones get another chance to impress in midfield.

Among the replacements is Owen Farrell, who could make his first appearance of the Tour if he comes on.

Where to watch

Sky Sports will be showing all the action live in the UK, Ireland and Gibraltar throughout this Tour.

Welsh language channel S4C will broadcast extensive same-day highlights of each game every evening.

For a full breakdown, click here.

What they said

Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell said: “We are in a great position just over a week out from the First Test. The players now have another chance to put in a strong team performance and put a hand up for selection for the Test matches against the Wallabies.

“Les Kiss has assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience and we know that he will have them well organised and they will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.”

AUNZ Coach Les Kiss said: "This week has been building nicely and the boys have put a lot of time into getting to know each other.

"In forming new bonds many of them have discovered they have more in common than they originally thought.

"We have named an experienced, powerful starting side for Saturday and we know our bench will make an impact when they get their opportunity.”

Key Battle – David Havili v Sione Tuipulotu

The midfield battle will be pivotal in Adelaide and two heavyweight 12s are going up against one another.

David Havili has 30 All Blacks caps to his name and co-captains the Invitational XV, while Sione Tuipulotu will be determined to make the most of his final opportunity to nail down a Test spot.

Oval Insights

• A combined side has been played once before, on 23 July 1989 at Ballymore, Brisbane, when they were known as the Anzac XV. It was the 12th and final game of the 1989 tour. The Lions won 19-15 after trailing 13-15 with just four minutes left when first Craig Chalmers and then Gavin Hastings (from 33 metres) banged over a drop goal apiece to snatch victory.

• Lions have visited South Australia just twice previously for rugby union. In on 16 July 1888 defeating the “20 of South Australia” 28-3 at Adelaide cricket ground and then in 1966, again beating South Australia (this time a XV) 38-11 at Norwood Oval in Adelaide.

• The Lions did however play four further games of Aussie Rules football, all at the Adelaide cricket ground between 7-14 July 1888, winning one (against Port Adelaide), and losing the other three.

• Adelaide Cricket Ground has hosted four previous men’s union tests: Australia’s 142-0 demolition of Namibia in the 2003 RWC, and Ireland’s narrow 16-15 win over the Pumas at the same event. The Wallabies beat the Pacific Islanders 29-14 there in 2004, and then in August 2022, in a double header in The Rugby Championship, Australia beat the Boks 25-17, and the Black Ferns beat the Wallaroos 22-14 in a women’s test.

• In addition, Adelaide Oval hosted a round of the world SVNS from 2007-2011, and saw South Australia host Fiji there in 1961 and 1984, and a NZ Divisional XV in 1991, whilst Australia A beat France A there in 2002 and Fiji XV in 2006.

• Aidan Ross is hoping to play against the Lions for the fourth time for a fourth different team having already appeared for NZ Barbarians and Chiefs in 2017 and for the Reds on this tour. In doing so he would become the twenty-first player to have played for four different Lions opponents in non-tests.

• David Havili made more attacking kicks in Super Rugby than any other Crusaders player (16). He also made the second-most tackles among centres in the league (166).

• Pete Samu made five appearances in the Investec Champions Cup this season. In those appearances, he scored five tries and made nine clean breaks.

• Folau Fakatava assisted eight tries and made ten clean breaks in his nine Super Rugby appearances last season.

• Ben Earl has made as many dominant collisions as any other player on tour so far, a total of eight. He has also made the most post-contact metres (59) and beaten the second-most defenders (11).

• Jac Morgan has won more turnovers than any other Lion on tour so far (four). He has also made an average of 16 tackles per 80 minutes.

• Mack Hansen has made five clean breaks on tour so far - second only to Tommy Freeman. He has also made the joint-most tackles on kick chase (nine).

Teams

AUNZ Invitational XV

15. Shaun Stevenson

14. AJ Lam

13. Ngani Laumape

12. David Havili (cc)

11. Marika Koroibete

10. Tane Edmed

9. Folau Fakatava

1. Aidan Ross

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen

4. Angus Blyth

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (cc)

6. Shannon Frizell

7. Pete Samu

8. Hoskins Sotutu

Replacements

16. Kurt Eklund

17. Joshua Fusitu’a

18. George Dyer

19. Matt Philip

20. Joe Brial

21. Kalani Thomas

22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips

23. Jock Campbell

British & Irish Lions

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #881

14. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867

13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #878

12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863

11. Duhan van Der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841

10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862

9. Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland) #883

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851

3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877

4. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880

5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)

6. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865

7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861

8. Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864

17. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876

18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856

19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869

20. Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #874

21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860

22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855

23. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780