Saturday 8 July 2017 11:38, UK
Five key battles ahead of the deciding Test between New Zealand and the Lions, live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30am this Saturday.
New Zealand haven't lost a series to the tourists since 1971 and haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994, so the odds are well and truly stacked against Warren Gatland's side.
Gatland has opted for the same 23 that levelled the series in Wellington last week, while Steve Hansen has brought in Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea and Jordie Barrett for the encounter.
Which showdowns will determine the outcome of Saturday's all-important Test? We examine five key clashes...
Ngani Laumape v Owen Farrell
Ngani Laumape is an unquestionable force with the ball; when the Hurricanes drew 31-31 with the Lions earlier in the tour the midfielder made 125 metres from his 11 carries.
His lines were simple, and mostly directed at Dan Biggar, but even though the Lions knew what was coming they still struggled to stop the centre in his tracks.
However, Laumape's defence lets him down. In that same game in Wellington he missed four of his nine attempted tackles, and when he came onto the field as a sub in the second Test four days later, he missed two out of his five tackles.
It's an area that Owen Farrell will look to exploit in Auckland this weekend. In the second Test Farrell and Johnny Sexton combined to set up Taulupe Faletau's try in the left corner, and when Farrell ran a similar line later in the game, Laumape followed the Englishman which allowed Jamie George to burst through a gap from which Conor Murray scored.
Can Farrell exploit Laumape's defensive frailties again this weekend, or will the 16-stone centre cause problems for the Lions?
Brodie Retallick v Maro Itoje
Brodie Retallick contributed solidly with the ball in the first Test, carrying 12 times for 38 metres to keep the Lions defence on its toes throughout the 80 minutes. However a week later the lock was practically absent in the loose, carrying four times for 15 metres at Westpac Stadium.
His lineout work was in stark contrast - in the first Test he didn't take a single throw from either of his hookers, while on Saturday he was the go-to man of the Kiwis' set piece, taking four of the nine throw-ins.
New Zealand will no doubt be hoping that the 2014 World Player of the Year can combine both aspects of his game in the deciding Test this weekend.
Maro Itoje made an enormous impact when he came off the bench in the opening Test. The Saracens man played 33 minutes and made eight tackles as well as stealing an opposition lineout throw.
Itoje was rewarded with a starting berth in the second Test, and he repaid his coaches' faith with 15 tackles - comfortably the most by any Lion on the day - and eight carries, which was tied-second with Jonathan Davies for the most by anyone in a red jersey.
The 2016 European Player of the Year also took three of his side's eight lineouts to cap off an influential day up front for the tourists.
Which of the two decorated locks will lead the charge for a victory at Eden Park to clinch the series?
Kieran Read v Sam Warburton
While Kieran Read and Sam Warburton won't be lining up directly opposite each other on Saturday, the duty to lead their teams to victory runs parallel.
Warburton missed the Lions' series-clinching third Test against the Wallabies in 2013, so the flanker will be desperate to make an impact on the game this weekend. The 28-year-old would become the first Lions captain in history to lead his side to back-to-back series wins if the tourists triumph in Auckland against the world champions.
"If we win it will be a career highlight for every single man, not just for the 41 but also the management," said Warburton. "They have all been through the same emotions as the players.
"It's a massive, massive team effort, and so if we win it, it definitely will be up there as the pinnacle of our careers."
Read meanwhile wins his 100th cap for New Zealand at Eden Park, and will be equally hungry to deliver a victory on behalf of his country.
The No 8 was gracious in defeat last week, but he cut the figure of a man eager to fix the mistake at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Crusaders loose forward won't want to become the first All Blacks captain in 46 years to lose a series to the Lions, but by all accounts he appears to be relishing the size of the challenge.
"As a kid you just want to play for the All Blacks," said Read, who made his Test debut against Scotland in 2008. "That was the dream and it's pretty awesome to be living the reality right now.
"It's a pretty cool place to be. I didn't expect to be in this position. I'll get my joy out of it by going out there and getting the win."
Beauden Barrett v Johnny Sexton
Beauden Barrett's attacking ability is well documented, but his kicking at goal is distinctly below par; in Super Rugby this season the fly-half has missed 11 of his 29 shots at goal.
Last week in Wellington - Barrett's home ground - the fly-half missed three kicks, two of which were fairly regulation.
Normally Barrett's lukewarm kicking goes unnoticed due to the amount of tries New Zealand score, but with the men in black outgunned at Westpac Stadium by two tries to none, the spotlight shone a little brighter on Barrett's boot.
The job of Sexton will be to shut Barrett down with the ball, to pressure him into making mistakes and to press the defensive line to starve the All Blacks of space when in possession. If the No 10 does that, it could add unwanted pressure to Barrett's goal-kicking.
The Ireland international says the Lions are expecting a huge response from the All Blacks, and believes the visitors will need to ride the initial backlash if they are to come away with the win.
"They will be hurting after losing, they don't lose too often so they will be hurting," said Sexton. "We need to match it.
"Match them in the first 10, 20 minutes and then impose ourselves on them."
Owen Franks v Mako Vunipola
Mako Vunipola gave away four penalties and was shown a yellow card in the second Test, leading to some calling for the front rower to be dropped from the Lions' starting line-up.
Sky Sports pundit Stuart Barnes says Vunipola's indiscretions aren't a cause for concern, but believes the Kiwis will have the Saracens man in their sights in the set piece this weekend.
"I'm a little bit concerned about Mako Vunipola starting, not so much the discipline but the scrummaging," said Barnes.
"In the first two Tests matches - no doubt at all - New Zealand have seen the stronger scrum, and I think that the All Blacks will definitely target Mako Vunipola."
Ahead of the series the Lions were expected to dominate up front, but it has not been the case in the first two Tests. Vunipola needs to get on top of Owen Franks early in the game to set the tone for the Lions, and keep the Barrett brothers away from any front-foot ball.
Opposite him in the scrum, Franks is one of the quiet men of New Zealand rugby. His 93 Tests without a single try to his name indicates the thankless duties of an All Black tighthead prop.
However, tries aside, to have amassed that many caps at the age of 29 shows the Crusader's pedigree, and he will be summoning all his experience to make life difficult for Vunipola in Auckland.
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Sam Warburton (c), 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Ben Te'o, 23 Jack Nowell.
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