Chris Jones
BBC 5 live rugby union reporter in New Zealand

Image source, BBC Sport

The Lions - bigger meatier men up front - hold up the Provincial Barbarians and turn the ball over.

App users may have to select 'view more' to see this content

Alun Wyn Jones is caught offside, a free play for Bryn Gatland and he chips across field, looking for wing Sevu Reece.

He can't gather. But play is brought back and the Provincial Barbarians kick into the corner to set up a line-out five out.

Greig Laidlaw - Lions scrum-half - fails to find touch with his clearing kick.

Ross Moriarty smacks into Bryn Gatland in defence, but the Provincial Barbarians still have the ball and plenty of intent to their play.

Sam Vaka scampers up into the Lions 22m, stepping Alun Wyn Jones off his left foot.

The tourists are not yet off the plane...

And the Provincial Barbarians are straight out of the traps and on the attack.

Inga Finau claims Bryn Gatland's kick-off ahead of the Lions catchers and the tourista have some early defending to do on their own 22m.

Ugo Monye
Former Lions and England winger

Image source, Rex Features

For the Lions, it's about doing the basics well and keeping your emotions in check. It's the first opportunity to represent the Lions and make a statement of intent to the NZ public who recently revealed they couldn't name many of the players!

Let's hope they'll have a good idea not just of who they are, but equally how good they are by the end! Lions Lions Lions!!

Image source, PA

Right, the teams are out.

I thought that there wouldn't be a pre-match haka before this game. Turns out I was mistaken.

It isn't the Provincial Barbarians, but three tattooed bespeared locals who lay down the traditional challenge.

Off they trot and we are ready for kick-off.

Bryn, son of Gatland, to get us going....

BBC Radio 5 live reporter Chris Jones is taking in the action from the cheaper seats...

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex

And the tourists...

Hogg; Watson, Joseph, Te'o, Seymour, Sexton, Laidlaw; Marler, Best, Sinckler, Jones, Henderson, Moriarty, Warburton, Faletau.

Replacements: George, Vunipola, Furlong, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb, Farrell, Daly.

Plenty of combinations in there with an all-Welsh back row, former Leinster team-mates Johnny Sexton and Ben Te'o and a couple of Scots in the back three.

Image source, Rex Features

First up the hosts...

Luteru Laulala; Sam Vaka, Inga Finau, Dwayne Sweeney, Sevu Reece; Bryn Gatland, Jack Stratton; Mitchell Dunshea, Lachlan Boshier, James Tucker, Keepa Mewett, Josh Goodhue, Oliver Jager, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Aidan Ross.

Replacements: Andrew Makalio, Tolu Fahamokoia, Marcel Renata, Matt Matich, Peter Rowe, Richard Judd, Jonah Lowe, Junior Ngaluafe.

Steve Jones
BBC Radio 5 live rugby producer in New Zealand

Image source, BBC Sport

It's dry and has been for four or five hours now. It's actually a really nice night. The grass bank that seats most of the spectators is very wet, but no one seems bothered - the Lions are here.

Image source, PA

The rain had been hammering down most of Friday - but the sand-based surface at Toll Stadium has just shrugged it off.

If the Lions want to put a bit of width on the ball today - they can.

Image source, Getty

Image source, Getty Images

There is not going to be a haka before today's match, but from then on it is going to be a fixture at pretty much every game - Test or otherwise.

Warren Gatland believes that staring down the barrel of the traditional pre-match challenge on a regular basis will actually play to his team's advantage.

"For me the experience, the more times you face up to it, you don't mind it, it's a motivational thing; it's not intimidating," he said.

"And I'm pleased my players will face it more than once. You become familiar with it. It becomes part of regular preparation for a game."

Image source, PA

Lions coach Warren Gatland speaking to Sky Sports: "We are all pretty excited about it. You have seen in the last four years the maturity of Sam Warburton as a player and a captain, he has the leadership skills and is chomping at the bit to get involved.

"All the family are behind [son and Provincial Barbarians fly-half] Bryn today. I just hope things go well from him."

Image source, Getty Images

That looks suspiciously like an actual Lions head.

About 35,000 Lions fans are expected in New Zealand over the coming weeks.

Chris Jones
BBC 5 live rugby union reporter in New Zealand

Image source, Getty Images

"The New Zealand coach Steve Hansen will no doubt be an interested observer in the Lions performance, but he already has something to fret about today, with All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty emerging as a major doubt for the Test series.

"Crotty went off with a rib injury as the Crusaders beat the Highlanders 25-22. He has been tipped to form a midfield partnership with Sonny Bill Williams..."

Andrew Mehrtens
Former New Zealand fly-half speaking on 5 live on Thursday

Image source, Rex Features

I think the All Blacks feel that Owen Farrell might be more predictable than Johnny Sexton. Sexton has been part of the Irish team that went close to beating the All Blacks in Dublin and then actually did so in Chicago last year. He has performed well against New Zealand in the past and that has to be in Warren Gatland's consideration.

I think New Zealand would be more nervous about a Lions team with Sexton at 10, but there is not much to pick between him and Farrell, or indeed Dan Biggar who is no slug himself.

Image source, AFP

Never mind Warren Gatland's selection quandaries, some of the big decisions facing the British and Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand have already been made.

Murray Kinsella - of the42, external - reports that Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien is in charge of dishing out fines for any of the squad stepping out of line.

Meanwhile, it is England flanker James Haskell and Wales wing Liam Williams on DJ duties.

Apparently Haskell reckons he "almost caused a riot" with some of his selections.

I was trying to identify who the Lions captain was for a moment, before realising Sam Warburton was sporting blue and Sam Anderson-Heather - the Provincial Barbarians skipper - was wearing something that looks a lot like a 1997 Lions top.

The hosts to kick us off.

App users may need to click through to view content.