Lions looking to salvage pride against Auckland

The British and Irish Lions are hoping to salvage their battered pride with a win over Auckland in their penultimate match in New Zealand at Eden Park today.

With the test series already decided after the All Blacks' comprehensive victories in the first two matches, the tourists are hoping a win over a powerful Auckland side will be just the tonic for a better performance in this weekend's final test.

"We've got a very determined group to show the best we can do in the past seven days," assistant Lions coach Ian McGeechan said.

"That's our focus because we can finish this tour very strongly and the feeling in the squad is that we want to do."

While Clive Woodward's Saturday team have lost three of their five tour matches - two against the All Blacks and another against New Zealand Maori - McGeechan's midweek side remains unbeaten.

They piled on 17 tries in their 109-6 demolition of Manawatu last Tuesday with Welsh winger Shane Williams scoring five tries to force his way into the test side.

"The important thing for the players to know is that if they put in a good performance on Tuesday then they have to be in the picture for Saturday," McGeechan said.

"There is still plenty at stake here."

The Lions made seven changes to the side that hammered Manawatu last week with Scotland flanker Jason White to make his tour debut after being called up as a late replacement for injured Richard Hill.