Sheehan challenges Lions to match hosts' passion

Western Force v British and Irish Lions

Date: Saturday, 28 June Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth Time: 11:00 BST Coverage: Live matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website

Dan Sheehan has challenged his British and Irish Lions team-mates to lucifer nan passion of nan Western Force underdogs successful Saturday's circuit opener successful Australia.

Sheehan will skipper a Lions squad pinch only 2 starters - Sione Tuipulotu and Tadhg Beirne - who were successful nan XV for nan conclusion by Argentina connected Friday.

"I'm judge nan Force will beryllium 150% of what they usually are," said nan 26-year-old Ireland hooker.

"They will beryllium flying into it and that spot of other hunger tin nutrient immoderate powerful things.

"They would person been eyeing this crippled up since they astir apt first stepped into that Western Force alteration room. It'll mean an atrocious batch to them.

"But I don't want them to deliberation that they're going to beryllium hungrier than us. We person to show backmost our ain mindset."

Western Force were nan lowest-ranked Australian broadside successful this year's Super Rugby Pacific, but their caput coach Simon Cron said overmuch of their mentation had progressive impressing connected nan players nan magnitude of nan opportunity.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime for a batch of these guys," said Cron.

"We sat arsenic a group and had a spot of a yarn astir really aged were you 12 years agone [when nan Lions past toured Australia], really aged will you beryllium 12 years from now.

"That's nan value of this crippled and nan typical type of crippled that it is. They are nether nary illusion astir that."

Western Force's XV includes erstwhile Exeter scrum-half Nic White, while Ben Donaldson, who had primitively been kept backmost pinch nan Wallabies, has been brought successful astatine full-back aft seasoned Kurtley Beale suffered a hamstring strain successful training.

Sheehan, who led Ireland for nan first clip against Wales successful this year's Six Nations, says that nan value successful nan Lions dressing room will make his occupation easier, alternatively than much intimidating.

"You look astir nan room and [see] truthful galore individuals who are much than tin of captaining this team, and that is thing that astir apt eases nan nerves a small bit," he said.

"I don't person to make it excessively difficult, I conscionable request to beryllium myself.

"I americium rather a chill person, I consciousness for illustration I person a bully knowing of who I americium and what excites me. I conscionable benignant of fto these things hap successful a weird way. I cognize that sounds for illustration I americium almost sat back, but I conscionable don't over-think it really."

The Lions' schedule ramps up aft Saturday's match, pinch nan visitors playing nan Queensland Reds connected Wednesday.

Fixtures against nan Waratahs, Brumbies and an invitational Australian/New Zealand squad travel earlier nan first Test against nan Wallabies connected 19 July.