Top rugby pundit Steve Richardson has two best for Saturday's first Test at Eden Park.
New Zealand v Lions - Saturday 07:35, Sky Sports 1
A wild weather forecast at Auckland makes the Lions a tempting prospect with an 11-point start from the All Blacks in the first Test at Eden Park.
The Lions forwards and defence have been immense in their two major matches so far on tour, the victories over the Crusaders in Christchurch a fortnight ago and the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua last Saturday.
Four of the Crusaders Front-Five from that day start again for New Zealand on Saturday, while two of their inspirational Back-Rowers Jerome Kaino and skipper Kieran Read have battled back from injury to feature.
Four years ago, the Lions sneaked the first Test against Australia 23-21 in Sydney and eight years ago against South Africa, after a bruising start, they lost 26-21 in Durban.
This is a better-quality Lions 23, with plenty of in-form proven performers and club and international winners picked. Maro Itoje, Sam Warburton, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Rhys Webb and Johnny Sexton are huge impact players to call on from the replacements bench.
Traditionally, the All Blacks are said to take a Test to get into their stride. England were only sunk at the end in their Auckland-opener five years ago.
However, it is impossible to wipe the 2005-Test opener, when the All Blacks beat the Lions 21-3, from the mind. And the current New Zealand set-up, who had a 78-0 pipe-opener against Samoa last Friday, have not been slow-starters.
Last year, the All Blacks beat Wales 39-21 in the first June Test and began their Rugby Championship campaign with a 42-8 win over Australia in Sydney and beat the Wallabies 29-9 the following week in Auckland. New Zealand scored 16 tries in three Tests against Wales and 38 tries in six Rugby Championship outfits.
Get on Kieran Read and Beauden Barrett to score tries.
No.8 Read will not worry about this being a first outing after breaking a thumb. He will be at the heart of every pack move. He will pick and go from the bottom of scrums. He will be peeling away to charge down the channel at Owen Farrell. Eight of his 21 Test tries have come against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
It has been a case of the king is dead, long live the king since Dan Carter retired from international rugby and Barrett stepped up to the pressure perch that is the All Blacks' first-choice Fly-Half. And as well as controlling games brilliantly with his cross-kicks and touch-finders, Barrett has consistently found his way to the tryline using angles, chip-and-collects and speed honed from time spent at Full-Back. He has also perfected the art of the defensive intercept.
Barrett scored two tries against Samoa last Friday to take his Test tally to 20 in 50 matches. Nine others have come since the 2015 World Cup, including three against Wales, when he scored tries in the semi-final and final. It would be no surprise to see him as much of a beneficiary of sublime offloads from Sonny-Bill Williams as the outside backline.
