Flanker Tom Curry started all three Tests against South Africa in 2021 as a 23-year-old.

England's Curry is yet to hit that sort of form in Australia but is confident of playing his way back into a Test spot.

Andy Farrell's selection of Curry, who has started at blind-side flanker so far on tour, in arguably his best position of open-side flanker could be key to finding his form.

He needs a big performance given fellow flankers Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl are all playing well.

"I don't do stats and numbers," said Curry.

"I judge my games on how hard I work and that is how I get my enjoyment out of the games, getting off the floor and running, and usually that puts me in the best spot to do what I want to do.

"I feel like I'm in a really good place. It was a bit stop-start but now it's back-to-back games and I feel like the more you play the better you get, so I'm timing it well."

Image source, Getty Images

We will now take a look at who needs a big game to push for a Test spot.

Andy Farrell's Test team appears to have taken shape.

Maro Itoje returns as captain and Blair Kinghorn makes his first start in his favourite position at full-back with Tommy Freeman and James Lowe on the wings.

Ireland's Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki look to be in pole position for a Test spot as they are named at 12 and 13.

Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park again form an exciting half-back partnership, while Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong get the nod in the front row.

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Van der Flier, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith, Hansen.

Ireland and Lions wing Mack Hansen, who was born and bred in Canberra before moving to Connacht in 2021, has been meeting up friends and family on his first time back in the city for a couple of years.

As well as a visit home, he also returned to boyhood club Gungahlin Eagles.

It is interesting to look back on the Eagles' report of Hansen's departure four years ago., external

"I'll always remember the Eagles as the club I played with my closest mates from school, made many new friendships at the Nest, played in big games like heritage round and a grand final, and going to outstanding 'Silly Sundays' down at Page Tavern," said Hansen back then.

"I'm going to miss the Eagles but am very grateful for all the memories I have with this club, and I can't wait to make my way back one day."

As he admitted earlier this week, he could never have dreamed that return would be in the red of the British and Irish Lions.

Brumbies flanker Tom Hooper knows a certain Lion Henry Pollock well.....

The pair got to know each other when England A beat Australia A in November.

Pollock is on the bench for this one.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Exeter-bound forward Tom Hooper will face the Lions fresh from his involvement in the Wallabies' victory over Fiji on Sunday.

Hooper came off the bench against Fiji and is one of three Wallabies in the pack along with lock Cadeyrn Neville and hooker Lachlan Lonergan, whose brother Ryan captains the team from scrum-half.

Hooper's brother Lachie, meanwhile, could make his Brumbies debut from the bench.

"It's been amazing to watch the growth of both Tom and Lachie over the past few years, and it's special that they may get the opportunity to play alongside each other in a Brumbies shirt on Wednesday night," said head coach Stephen Larkham.

"Not only that, but it's against a world-class team in the British and Irish Lions. They'll be chomping at the bit to contribute positively to the team."

Brumbies: Muirhead; O'Donnell, Sapsford, Feliuai, Toole; Meredith, R Lonergan (capt); Leli, L Lonergan, Van Nek, Shaw, Neville, Hooper, Scott, Tualima.

Replacements: Bowron, Orr, Fotuaika, L Hooper, Reimer, Goddard, Debreczeni, Creighton.

British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell: "There is a real sense of excitement because there's a lot of history that goes with this fixture.

"The last two occasions we have played the Brumbies there have been four points in it, for and against. We know the challenge ahead and it’s something we have been looking forward to.

"I have heard reports of how enthusiastic and good training has been for the Brumbies as you would expect when the Lions are coming to town."

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A 15-year-old Mack Hansen was in the stands supporting Brumbies as they inflicted the Lions' first defeat of their 2013 tour of Australia.

"I was at the game when the Brumbies beat the Lions," recalls Hansen, who was born and raised in Canberra and qualifies for Ireland and the Lions through his Irish mother.

"Things do happen. I remember that tour vividly - I remember the buzz around Australia, seeing these players that you never really get to see. It was just amazing, it was just cool to me. Now it's here and I'm doing it and it feels like I'm properly living a dream.

"I was with my dad and my brother [at the Brumbies match]. We were sitting behind the goalposts.

"It was a mad thing, because you don't expect anyone to actually do it. I've talked to guys about that afterwards, and they were juiced. They'd been pumped up for that game for weeks."

The Lions were narrowly beaten 14-12 by Brumbies on their last visit to Canberra in 2013.

But that game was played on the Tuesday before the first Test.

There is never an excuse but in this case none of Warren Gatland's first Test starting XV played that day.

It was nearly back-to-back wins after a late conversion by scrum-half Matt Dawson in 2001 sealed a 30-28 win for the Lions.

Lions team in 2013 v Brumbies: Rob Kearney; Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Shane Williams; Stuart Hogg, Ben Youngs; Ryan Grant, Rory Best (capt), Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Simon Zebo.

Image source, Getty Images

The three-time Super Rugby winners are led by head coach Stephen Larkham, who played for Australia against the Lions in 2001.

Larkham was the fly-half in the opening two Tests of the Wallabies' series victory 24 years ago.

"The boys have been back in training for a couple of weeks and they are aware of how big an opportunity this is for them to take on the Lions," said Larkham.

"We're under no illusions of the challenge that lies ahead."

Image source, Getty Images

On paper this is the hardest test yet on Australian soil for the Lions.

Brumbies finished third in the Super Rugby Pacific table this year and were the only Australian side to reach the semi-finals.

The Canberra side won nine of their 14 games in the regular season before losing against New Zealand side Chiefs in the last four on 14 June.

Image source, Getty Images

The Lions face ACT Brumbies in game four of nine of their tour of Australia.

How are we already nearly halfway through this series?

It is not quite now or never for Test spots but we are getting close to that stage.

This should be a good one.