British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland was bristling with positivity last night as he discussed the naming of his side to take on the Highlanders and also looked back over the 12-3 win over the Crusaders.
The side to play tomorrow night is completely changed from the one that played in Christchurch. It will be captained by tour skipper Sam Warburton.
Warburton had been hampered by an ankle complaint but the plan was always for him to not play in Christchurch, as it would give all loose forwards a start on the tour.
Gatland said after the win over the Crusaders it was a big game for all the players tomorrow night.
"We knew the first couple of games, we felt we were improving. It was a big step up in performance, particularly defensively, against the Crusaders," Gatland said.
"I think the players for the Highlanders game are well aware of the continuity and momentum that have been created from the Crusaders win. [They need] to continue to do that and to perform as a team and individually so they can put us under pressure as coaches for Saturday and, ultimately, for the first test."
Warburton said the Highlanders might be down nine players, but he was certain they would be a force.
He was part of a Wales outfit last year that played the depleted Chiefs, yet the Welsh had been well beaten.
Gatland said he was likely to field a strong team against the Maori All Blacks on Saturday in Rotorua, but it would not be the exact first-test team. The first test is in Auckland on June 24.
Centre Jonathan Davies was symptom-free from a head knock he picked up on Saturday night against the Crusaders, while a specialist would look at fullback Stuart Hogg’s cheek, which forced him off on Saturday night.