Lions 2013: Simon Zebo to make debut against NSW Waratahs 
By Bryn Palmer BBC Sport in Sydney Ireland wing Simon Zebo will make his British and Irish Lions debut against New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday.
Zebo joined the squad as cover on Tuesday and goes straight into a strong side containing up to a dozen likely Test contenders.
With the first Test against Australia on 22 June, George North (hamstring), Brian O'Driscoll (groin) and Manu Tuilagi (shoulder) are all not risked.
But fly-half Jonny Sexton has been passed fit to start.
Lions fixtures and results - Sat 1 June: Won 59-8 v Barbarians, Hong Kong
- Wed 5 June: Won 69-15 v Western Force, Perth
- Sat 8 June: Won 22-12 Queensland Reds, Brisbane
- Tue 11 June: Won 64-0 v Combined New South Wales-Queensland Country, Newcastle
- Sat 15 June: New South Wales Waratahs, Sydney
- Tue 18 June: ACT Brumbies, Canberra
- Sat 22 June: Australia, First Test, Brisbane
- Tue 25 June: Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
- Sat 29 June: Australia, Second Test, Melbourne
- Sat 6 July: Australia, Third Test, Sydney
The Irishman will line up alongside likely Test half-back partner Mike Phillips.
The back five of the pack also has the look of a Test combination, with Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell - who started the first Test in South Africa together four years ago - paired in the second row.
Captain Sam Warburton and fellow flanker Tom Croft both start only their second game of the tour, alongside Jamie Heaslip at number eight.
England hooker Tom Youngs also has a further chance to press his claims in the front row alongside likely Test props Mako Vunipola and Adam Jones.
With Alex Cuthbert rested after starting three of the first four games of the tour, Sean Maitland reverts to his favoured right wing berth after starting at full-back in Tuesday's 64-0 win in Newcastle against a Combined Queensland-NSW Country XV.
With Tuilagi unavailable and O'Driscoll being carefully managed to ensure he is fit for the first Test in Brisbane, Welsh centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies are paired together for the second time on tour.
Ireland wing Rob Kearney is also set for his first action off the bench after missing the first four matches with a hamstring tear.
The Waratahs, without nine other Wallabies either preparing for the first Test or injured, have been bolstered by the release of flanker Dave Dennis and centre Rob Horne from the Australia squad.
Half-backs Bernard Foley and Matt Lucas have also been released from the Australian Sevens squad preparing for the Sevens World Cup at the end of the month.
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell , Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Rob Kearney.
Lions fixtures and results - Sat 1 June: Won 59-8 v Barbarians, Hong Kong
- Wed 5 June: Won 69-15 v Western Force, Perth
- Sat 8 June: Won 22-12 Queensland Reds, Brisbane
- Tue 11 June: Won 64-0 v Combined New South Wales-Queensland Country, Newcastle
- Sat 15 June: New South Wales Waratahs, Sydney
- Tue 18 June: ACT Brumbies, Canberra
- Sat 22 June: Australia, First Test, Brisbane
- Tue 25 June: Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne
- Sat 29 June: Australia, Second Test, Melbourne
- Sat 6 July: Australia, Third Test, Sydney
The Irishman will line up alongside likely Test half-back partner Mike Phillips.
The back five of the pack also has the look of a Test combination, with Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell - who started the first Test in South Africa together four years ago - paired in the second row.
Captain Sam Warburton and fellow flanker Tom Croft both start only their second game of the tour, alongside Jamie Heaslip at number eight.
England hooker Tom Youngs also has a further chance to press his claims in the front row alongside likely Test props Mako Vunipola and Adam Jones.
With Alex Cuthbert rested after starting three of the first four games of the tour, Sean Maitland reverts to his favoured right wing berth after starting at full-back in Tuesday's 64-0 win in Newcastle against a Combined Queensland-NSW Country XV.
With Tuilagi unavailable and O'Driscoll being carefully managed to ensure he is fit for the first Test in Brisbane, Welsh centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies are paired together for the second time on tour.
Ireland wing Rob Kearney is also set for his first action off the bench after missing the first four matches with a hamstring tear.
The Waratahs, without nine other Wallabies either preparing for the first Test or injured, have been bolstered by the release of flanker Dave Dennis and centre Rob Horne from the Australia squad.
Half-backs Bernard Foley and Matt Lucas have also been released from the Australian Sevens squad preparing for the Sevens World Cup at the end of the month.
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell , Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Rob Kearney.
The Irishman will line up alongside likely Test half-back partner Mike Phillips.
The back five of the pack also has the look of a Test combination, with Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O'Connell - who started the first Test in South Africa together four years ago - paired in the second row.
Captain Sam Warburton and fellow flanker Tom Croft both start only their second game of the tour, alongside Jamie Heaslip at number eight.
England hooker Tom Youngs also has a further chance to press his claims in the front row alongside likely Test props Mako Vunipola and Adam Jones.
With Alex Cuthbert rested after starting three of the first four games of the tour, Sean Maitland reverts to his favoured right wing berth after starting at full-back in Tuesday's 64-0 win in Newcastle against a Combined Queensland-NSW Country XV.
With Tuilagi unavailable and O'Driscoll being carefully managed to ensure he is fit for the first Test in Brisbane, Welsh centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies are paired together for the second time on tour.
Ireland wing Rob Kearney is also set for his first action off the bench after missing the first four matches with a hamstring tear.
The Waratahs, without nine other Wallabies either preparing for the first Test or injured, have been bolstered by the release of flanker Dave Dennis and centre Rob Horne from the Australia squad.
Half-backs Bernard Foley and Matt Lucas have also been released from the Australian Sevens squad preparing for the Sevens World Cup at the end of the month.
Lions team: Leigh Halfpenny; Sean Maitland, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell , Tom Croft, Sam Warburton (capt), Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Rob Kearney.