Corry's chance to step into limelight

They are the only two fit No8s in the tour party, as Dallaglio is ruled out and Scotland's Taylor is struggling with a hamstring injury. Given that Taylor was injured in 2001, the portents are not good.

That would leave Corry and Owen battling it out for the Test No8 place and the Welsh player's cause is not helped by a domestic duty that will remove him from the equation for a week. Owen will return to Wales on 12 June for the birth of his first child and is not scheduled to return until just before the build-up to the First Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch on 25 June.

"I am going home next week and then I am scheduled to be back on the following Sunday. The management have said it's really important for me to go home and the fact that we are having an elective Caesarean means we know what's going to be happening," said Owen, who is a ball-playing No8 rather than a nononsense ball carrier like Corry.

"Being around Lawrence for a short period, I got to know him and he is fantastic player and all you can do is get on with things. This is the pinnacle and everyone has the attitude that they will be giving absolutely everything for the Lions. Everyone has got on really well and mixing together and we are determined to enjoy the experience. Taranaki will be really tough and every side are going to relish the chance to take on the Lions."

If Corry reproduces the form he showed when replacing Dallaglio in the opening game, he will be the favourite for the Test position. With the Lions desperate to replace the leadership qualities Dallaglio offered, Corry appears best equipped to fill the void.

Corry said: "Lawrence has been an immense presence in the squad and it's incredibly unfortunate but we have to move on. The honour of captaining the Lions in this match is phenomenal. We have set a benchmark with the win over Bay of Plenty and that is now the minimum standard of performance."

Besides Corry, this is a vital match for Will Greenwood, the Harlequins centre, who has not played since the club's final league match, which led to relegation from the Zurich Premiership. Greenwood is vice-captain and needs a strong game as does outside-half Charlie Hodgson, who could disappear into the midweek squad unless he makes a big impact.