Tom English
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium

Lions being introduced on the big screen. "Former Aussie Mack Hansen...another former Aussie Sione Tuipulotu..." Move on, lads. Move on.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist at Optus Stadium

The light show has begun as the players from both sides are introduced on the big screens at either end of the stadium.

I always love these, the stadium is in darkness at the moment with only the red lights flashing as the Lions names are read out, now in blue for Western Force

Tom English
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium

Worst night's sleep of the tour. A commotion in the corridor of my Northbridge hotel until about 6am. Shouting and roaring. Banging doors. A fella declaring loudly at 4.30am that he was off for a kebab. And chips. He got a blast of some agricultural language, I don't mind admitting. Northbridge is where all the young folk hang out. Dunno why I was there, but anyway, I'm here and I'm wide awake and it's an absolute joy.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist at Optus Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

The crowd are quite far away from the action, especially on both sides of the pitch.

That’s because this is a multi-sport stadium and tomorrow there’s a big Aussie Rules game between Fremantle and St Kilda that will be taking place here.

The Lions have struggled this week to dent the AFL coverage in the local media.

That’s being said, if the Western Force were to win today, I’m pretty sure the Aussie press will sit up and take notice!

British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions fly-half Finn Russell, speaking to Sky Sports: "I think the main thing as a group is to show how we have connected as a team and how these relationships are building.

"I think that's the main thing. Myself and other boys show how we're moving forward.

"Good to play alongside Sione Tuipulotu - I know him very well. We have a good relationship.

"Teams like the Lions is the relationship off the pitch and then the relationship on the pitch.

"Hopefully, that translates tonight.

"Good to have Johnny [Sexton] around. Very experienced. Johnny has been good. Good to bounce ideas off."

A reminder, the youngest Lions player is responsible for the upkeep of one of their most prized assets, mascot BIL.

That duty falls on Henry Pollock's shoulders this year, but the young Northampton back row will also want to make his mark on the field today in his first start for the Lions.

Youthful exuberance, eh?

Image source, Getty Images

Tom English
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium

So many great potential storylines today. With Blair Kinghorn still with Toulouse and Hugo Keenan still out with injury (expected back midweek) this is a big chance for Elliot Daly to steal a march on the others at 15.

The midfield of Garry Ringrose and Sione Tuipulotu looks mouth-watering. Can they gel? Finn Russell has Tomos Williams as his scrum-half. Williams and Russell, on paper, could be a devastating combination.

Again, with Jamison Gibson-Park still not fit but also expected back on Wednesday, this is a major moment for the Welshman. He was excellent off the bench against the Pumas. Can he build on that from the start?

Alex Cuthbert
2013 British and Irish Lions

Talking of 2013, Alex Cuthbert scored the match-winning try in the first Test in Brisbane and he was on 5 live Sport last night to reminisce.

“I was at the game last week in Dublin, and just walking from the middle of Dublin, so many people were coming up to me talking about 2013,” he said.

“I am buzzing for this game. What a team the Lions have put out. I think that’s a serious backline and a big old pack.

“I think they will give the likes of Tomos Williams and Finn Russell time, and when you give those guys time, they can play some quality rugby.”

If that bit of nostalgia has whet the appetite for a bit more, here's a look at the team that represented the Lions that day.

How many of those stars would get in today's team, I wonder..?

Lions: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Manu Tuilagi, George North; Jonny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Dan Cole, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Tom Croft, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Matt Stevens, Geoff Parling, Toby Faletau, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Sean Maitland.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Lions ran riot in their first match of the 2013 tour with a nine-try victory over Western Force in Perth.

First-half scores from Jonny Sexton, Brian O'Driscoll and Tom Croft put the tourists 27-3 up, but they lost prop Cian Healy to a potential tour-ending injury.

The Irishman was taken off on a stretcher off after twisting his ankle minutes before the interval, although initial reports suggested it may only be sprained.

The Lions ran in six more tries on the resumption, with Leigh Halfpenny landing every conversion - many from the touchline - and two penalties in a magnificent goalkicking display that earned him 24 points.

You can read our full report from 12 years ago here.

Image source, Getty Images

Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium

The city of Perth was founded by a Scot and boy have many made the journey over for this match to watch five of their countrymen don the Lions shirt tonight.

Finn Russell and Sione Tuipolotu started against Australia in the 27-14 win last autumn, both scoring tries.

What an opportunity to show Andy Farrell what that combination can do today as the fly-half aims to become the first Scot to start a Lions Test at 10 since Gregor Townsend in 1997.

Image source, BBC Sport

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer in Australia

Andy Farrell has picked a stellar backline, with his industrious and clever wings, James Lowe and Mack Hansen, and a mouth-watering midfield with Sione Tuipulotu restored to inside centre with Garry Ringrose making his Lions debut outside him.

Finn Russell is at 10.

Farrell spoke glowingly about the Scot on Friday. We've come a long way since the announcement of Johnny Sexton as part of the coaching ticket had people scurrying around wondering if this meant curtains for Russell. All is sweetness and light on that front.

Farrell wants his team to play with speed and imagination. There's a mantra of heads-up rugby within a basic framework. That's meat and drink to Russell.

The way the Lions coaches have been talking it's as if the vision of what's to come is being built, in part, around the brilliance of the fly-half. We shall see.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Ugo Monye
2009 British and Irish Lion

I'm excited to watch this team play. There is much better balance to the side, especially across the backline. I'm expecting not just a win, but a statement win, with the Force being the worst of the Australian franchises. This game provides a real opportunity to breed confidence and chemistry. The tour starts now.

We've just heard from Andy Farrell so who will, indeed, put their best foot forward tonight?

These Lions players will want to beat Western Force and kickstart their tour with victory, but they will also have one eye on claiming a place in the Test team.

Our Get Involved today is around the star performers and who has stood out.

You can let us know once the game kicks off by Posting on X and using #bbcrugby, on WhatsApp (03301231826) or by text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)⁠.

British and Irish Lions

Speaking to Sky Sports, British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said: "[We want] a little bit more cohesion. We take the good out of the game [against Argentina] as well and we looked dangerous at times but we made too many errors.

"This is a different side again so it will be about how we put or best foot forward when it counts and it counts tonight.

"If you are not excited and don't have some nerves you're probably in the wrong jersey. But the payers are calm and hopefully come kick-off, they will be ready."

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealander Ben O'Keefe will take charge of the Lions' first outing Down Under.

Image source, Getty Images

Another familiar foe.

Former Exeter scrum-half Nic White will lead the home side out later on.

The veteran number nine has been released by the Wallabies squad to try and land an early blow on the tourists.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom English
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium

Late change to the bench for the Western Force. The one-time England cap, Nic Dolly, is out and Tom Horton is in. Lions all good, for now. The lights are on, the temperature is rising among Lions folk. The locals? Hmm. The stadium is still mostly empty.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Donaldson was released from Australia's training squad on Thursday to replace injured veteran Kurtley Beale.

Donaldson, who is in Australia's Test squad as a fly-half, starts at full-back with Alex Harford at 10 alongside former Exeter scrum-half Nic White.

White, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain had already been released by Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt.

But fellow internationals Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter - who was born in London and won the Premiership with Leicester in 2022 - were not allowed to leave.

Former Leicester hooker Nic Dolly, who was capped by England in 2021, was named on the bench but we're hearing he might have an injury issue...

Image source, Getty Images