A first glimpse of the power of that Crusaders pack as Luke Romano carries well.

But that's good defence from the Lions as Alun Wyn Jones halts the Crusaders forwards.

First test for the Lions scrum, and it's a free-kick.

Decision is to go for the up-and-under. But after his yellow card in Auckland, Liam Williams is not going full pelt there.

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But Crusaders number eight Jordan Taufua wins the first penalty of the game as the Lions are pinged for holding on in midfield.

A positive start from the tourists, they have started with the right intensity this evening.

That could have been the dream start for the Lions.

Owen Farrell takes control immediately and one of his trademark flat passes finds Wales centre Jonathan Davies but the ball is knocked forward.

The Lions will come again...

Owen Farrell gets us under way.

Not collected cleanly and the ball falls to Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones.

The challenge is laid down by the Crusaders.

Mako Vunipola does not look bothered. He's picking his ear...

We're all set to go.

Chris Jones
BBC 5 live rugby union reporter at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Image source, PA

The atmosphere here is superb. We've had the horsemen, the Gladiator-themed music, the haka, while practically every Crusaders fan in here is flying a red flag. It feels like a passionate Irish rugby crowd, rather than a Kiwi one.

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We once again start with the haka as the Lions prepare their steely faces in response...

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19 June, 1971.

Canterbury 3-14 Lions

The dirtiest game ever played?

One week before their first Test against the All Blacks, the 1971 Lions squad took on Canterbury.

What followed was all-out-war.

The Lions lost their two test props Ray McLoughlin and Sandy Carmichael while Fergus Slattery had most of his front teeth knocked out.

But a steely resolve was born. The Lions won that match and returned home victorious after an historic 2-1 series triumph over the All Blacks.

They remain the only Lions side to have won a Test series in New Zealand.

Before we get underway, let's just remind you of a famous test in Christchurch.

Let's hope these scenes don't await the Lions today...

There's clapping and shouting (no whooping) in the tunnel as the Lions make their way onto the field in Christchurch.

Alun Wyn Jones leads out the team with Bil the Lion in hand.

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In Christchurch, the Lions fans are out in force as the sun sets on the AMI Stadium.

Is this a must-win game for the tourists?

How will the Lions pack stand up to the experience of the Crusaders front five?

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Steve Jones
BBC Radio 5 live rugby producer at AMI Stadium, Christchurch

The stadium announcer is whipping up the atmosphere here.

He’s just said “let’s hope Warren Gatland is dropping a few more F-bombs in his post match press conference”.

Former Lion Ugo Monye will be live on the BBC Sport Facebook page after the match to answer your questions.

Visit www.facebook.com/bbcsport, external now, like us, and you’ll get a notification when he’s ready.

Simple.

In the meantime, take a look at his top three performers from the last game.

Today's team could become the first Lions side to lose successive non-Test matches in the professional era.

The last time this occurred was in 1993 when the Lions were beaten by Auckland and Hawke's Bay in the space of four days.

Chris Jones
BBC 5 live rugby union reporter at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Just had a quick chat with former All Black captain - and Crusaders legend - Justin Marshall, now a top pundit on television over here. However, the conversation was mainly about what beer to drink in New Zealand rather than the rugby.

Onto the game, and a Crusaders supporter just highlighted fly-half Richie Mo'unga as a key man, but also one the Lions can target. "Great player, but he can be flaky," is the verdict from the locals.

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With Owen Farrell starting at fly-half, this opens up options for Warren Gatland in the centre.

Jonathan Davies will make his first appearance this tour against the Crusaders and needs to impress.

The Wales centre was at the centre of controversy back in 2013 when he was picked ahead of Brian O'Driscoll for the final Test against Australia, but silenced the critics.

The 29-year-old played all 240 minutes of the Test matches against the Wallabies as the Lions emerged victorious and is firmly in Gatland's plans.

Davies has been in fine attacking form for the Scarlets this season as the Welsh outfit triumphed in the Pro12.

He will combine with England's Ben Te'o, who impressed in the first game against the NZ Barbarians.

Te'o may do well to take over the clearance kicks though...

Ugo Monye
Former Lions and England winger

Discipline was a major issue in the defeat by the Blues on Wednesday, we cannot afford to see that again today. The set-piece - scrums and line-outs - will function and the game will be managed. It's just the ability to covert territory and possession into points which seems to be the Achilles heel of the Lions attack so far.

I believe/HOPE the Lions can win this morning. This tour has always been about making and breaking records - remember the Lions have only once won a Test series in New Zealand. The Crusaders are unbeaten in 14 games at home. Who cares!! These Lions - as much as they acknowledge and respect history - are there to hopefully create their own.

Former Lion Ugo will be live on the BBC Sport Facebook page after the match to answer your questions - visit www.facebook.com/bbcsport, external now and you’ll get a notification when he’s ready.

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When the Lions last rocked up to Christchurch, prop Owen Franks was in his final year at Christchurch Boys' High School and playing for the first XV.

He recalls the hype leading up to the game, external, and even remembers training in the gym when the All Blacks came in.

The 29-year-old has now played 90 tests for his country and his trophy cabinet includes two World Cup medals.

Astonishingly for an All Black, Franks has never scored a try for New Zealand, the longest drought in test history.

And the tight-head prop has crossed the whitewash just twice in 133 Super Rugby games for the Crusaders.

But he packs down alongside All Blacks team-mate Codie Taylor, whose athleticism and try-scoring ability, coupled with Franks' experience, will present a huge test for the Lions front-row.

Not only that, there are three more All Blacks in the front five - prop Joe Moody and locks Luke Romano and Sam Whitelock.

Quite some front five.

Steve Jones
BBC Radio 5 live rugby producer at AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Just walked to my seat past pictures of Crusaders legends. This is Richie McCaw country.

The double World Cup winning captain played 145 times for the franchise. But then it's also Dan Carter country, Andrew Mehrtens country, Justin Marshall country and Aaron Mauger country.

The Crusaders alumni is pretty A-list.

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If the Lions are going to stand any chance of winning in Christchurch, they must control the game from the half-backs.

Cue Owen Farrell.

The 25-year-old was a member of the victorious 2013 tour to Australia, but he only made one appearance - as a 63rd-minute replacement in the third Test.

This time around, things will be rather different.

Farrell helped Saracens to European Champions Cup glory, twice, and guided England to the Six Nations title in each of the last two years.

The English playmaker was always going to be a key player on the tour, but it was more about whether he'd be played at 10 or 12.

He made the difference when he came off the bench against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.

And with Johnny Sexton made to look decidedly average in his two opening performances, the Lions will be looking to Farrell to restore their pride..., external