Lions are hated in Australia

To add to the sense of unreality in the build-up, tomorrow's Test is being played at a cricket ground which will stage an Australian rules match today and which has tiny dressing rooms and no warm-up area.

With masterful understatement, coach Graham Henry said: "There do seem to be a lot of difficulties around at the moment."

It is a fair bet, however, that Johnson will use stronger language when he rises to give his pre-match speech. He will remind his fellow players that it really is "us against everyone else". He will adopt the theme of those other Lions, the fans of Millwall Football Club, who sing: "No one likes us, we don't care." And he will point out that there is one very good way to shut the whingers up.

So, before all Hell breaks loose, let's put the record straight.

This Lions party are a bunch of pussycats compared to previous tours, both on and off the pitch. Yes, they will put it about when necessary against opposition teams desperate to make a name for themselves and the First Test is almost certain to include a couple of flash points.

But that is true of any big Test match and they don't come any bigger than tomorrow's meeting.

What has happened here is that the Australians have whipped themselves into a frenzy because they lost to the Lions 12 years ago and, despite what has been said by the local media, they did not lose that series 2-1 because the Lions beat them to a bloody pulp in every Test.

The Aussies lost because, in the final Test, David Campese had a brainstorm and threw the ball away on his own line and Iuean Evans touched down. It was that simple.

However, that defeat has festered away and not even World Cup wins in 1991 and 1999, plus success in every other tournament, has healed the wound.

Now they have the Lions back again and all that frustration and the perceived wrongs inflicted on Wallaby rugby by Finlay Calder's 1989 Lions can been righted. Patently, that is a ridiculous attitude.

The Wallabies being sent out on this revenge mission were schoolboys when the 1989 series was in full flow and the only Lions link with that triumph is Dai Young, the present midweek captain. He dismisses that tour as irrelevant and, given it took place during the old amateur days, he is absolutely right.

What will unfold tomorrow is the first of a three-act play that will capture the attention of the rugby world and even make the one-eyed rugby league supporters in this city take notice.

Rugby union isn't Australia's national game but because of their World Cup triumphs they are starting to eat away at league's position. Success over the Lions would help raise the sport's profile in league heartlands.

That is why even the most hardened league man has been talking about Jason Robinson, the England wing, and the most high-profile British player to switch from league to union. Robinson was pressing for a first Lions cap before Dan Luger suffered his eye injury and he is the man the Wallabies fear.

Standard Sport pin-pointed Robinson as a key weapon in the Lions' armoury before the party left London and the man they call Billy Whizz has lived up to his reputation. Robinson will be given a roving brief in an otherwise kicking-dominated Lions game plan.

The Lions, without Luger and out-of-form Iain Balshaw, have lost vital pace and the inclusion of Martin Corry for Neil Back in the back row has made the pack heavier and slower.

They have to opt for a set-piece strategy, taking the Wallabies on up front and tiring their legs.

If that is achieved, then their famous defence will show signs of brittleness and Robinson will be the man to break through, with Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll equipped to follow suit.

Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen has recalled hardman Owen Finnegan to counter the Lions' forward power and is pinning his hopes on half-backs George Gregan and Steve Larkham.

New Zealander Henry is well known for his clever strategies in this part of the world, having made his name with Auckland.

Now his coaching skills have reached the ultimate level and he admitted: "We have talked about all the problems we have faced but we have to pull the team together and get on with the job."

Even so, this Test may be beyond the Lions despite the backing of 10,000 fans.