Classy O'Driscoll can name his price

'He is not only the best player I have had the pleasure of watching, but also has his feet on the ground.'

Wallaby captain John Eales is keeping a cool head following his side's defeat.

'The worst thing you can do is panic,' said Eales, who left the field in the second half with a thigh injury.

'I don't think there's anything wrong with what we've been doing, it's just we have to do it better.'

Aussie coach Rod Macqueen has given Eales and fly half Stephen Larkham until this afternoon to prove they have a realistic chance of playing in Saturday's second Test in Melbourne.

Defeat for Macqueen's men under the closed roof at Colonial Stadium would hand the Lions victory in the three-match series, their first tour of Australia since winning 2-1 in 1989. Eales injured his thigh and was forced from the field midway through the second half in Brisbane.

Larkham damaged an elbow, but is also hopeful of starting.

Macqueen, who will announce his line-up tomorrow, said Australia had no excuses for their demoralising defeat.

'Our performance was nowhere near what we're capable of so we've got to try to turn that around,' he said.

'It would be nice to think we can go and play to the best of our ability and then we'll see who is the best team.

'Luckily, we've got another chance so let's see how we go.'