Nathan Grey's actions incensed Donal Lenihan

It is also worth reminding the Lions that, as in the brilliant first Test victory in Brisbane, they had the Wallabies on the back foot for most of the first part of the match.

In fact, they could easily have been out of sight by half-time in Melbourne and they should not forget that the two Joe Roff tries that swung the match early in the second half stemmed from Lions' possession and Lions' mistakes.

Only then did the Wallabies begin to play like true champions.

Only then did Matt Burke find the line for the Wallabies' third try. Only then did he find his kicking boots for a record match tally of 25 points.

Those considerations should sustain the Lions this week as they lick their wounds and conduct a body count.

They knew on Saturday night that they would have to go into the third Test without the services of outstanding flanker Richard Hill and electric scrum-half Rob Howley.

X-rays revealed that Howley had cracked ribs from the result of a third quarter collision.

Hill was concussed in the first-half in an incident which led Lions manager Donal Lenihan to alert the Citing Commissioner.

Stephen Larkham is a doubt for Sydney

The latter's refusal to take any action against Wallaby centre Nathan Grey incensed Lenihan to the extent that he has called for the whole citing procedure to be reviewed.

The Lions have a right to feel hard done by, especially given their acceptance of a two-match ban on Colin Charvis after a much less violent incident involving Wallaby prop Nick Stiles in the first Test.

Charvis, ban now completed, is an obvious squad replacement for Richard Hill, with Martin Corry expected to return to the starting XV.

Matt Dawson is almost certain to step in for Howley. Of much greater concern, however, is the fitness of outside-half Jonny Wilkinson.

The Newcastle player left the Colonial Stadium on a stretcher and in obvious agony.

Although the injury was later diagnosed as soft tissue damage to the lower left leg, he was kept behind in Melbourne when the rest of the squad flew to Sydney.

He must be a serious doubt for the Test.

If Wilkinson does not play, the selectors are likely to pick Austin Healey as their pivot.

The Leicester player turns out on the wing for England and came on the tour as third choice scrum-half.

Austin Healey: Could be fly-half on Saturday

But he has played at number 10 with some success for Leicester and appears, at the moment, to offer more in that position than Ireland's Ronan O'Gara and Wales' world record points scorer Neil Jenkins, both of whom have had disappointing tours.

Brian O'Driscoll and Scott Quinnell were also both carrying knocks at the end of the second Test, but are expected to be fit for Saturday.

The same cannot be said with certainty of Wallaby pair Steve Larkham and David Giffin.

The outside half had a damaged elbow, the lock an injured shoulder. They are officially rated as doubtful for the series decider.

The Wallabies are now clear favourites to clinch the series, especially in view of the Lions' injury concerns.

But only a fortnight ago, before the first Test, the Lions were written off by everyone, including their own players.

They pulled off an astonishing victory. This time the stakes are higher and the task is harder, but they have no reason to believe that they cannot make history twice.