Rob Howley's injury is a blow to Lions hopes

Tour-ending injuries to key players Rob Howley and Richard Hill were hard enough to take.

The thought that they might have lost Jonny Wilkinson as well was the stuff of nightmares.

Yet, for all that the psychological advantage now clearly rests with the world champions, it is still worth reminding the Lions that the series is now level at 1-1.

There's still everything to play for in Saturday's third Test.

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.

Joe Roff (right) will be a threat on Saturday

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 as 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.

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 returning to the starting XV. Matt Dawson steps in for Howley.

The only unforced change to the starting line-up is the selection of Austin Healey on the right wing in place of Dafydd James.

On the bench Darren Morris replaces Jason Leonard, Ronan O'Gara comes in for Dawson and Mark Taylor takes over from Neil Jenkins.

Jonny WIlkinson has made a rapid recovery

But the major plus for the Lions is the recovery of 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.

Tour doctor James Robson and his medical staff have worked a minor miracle in returning the Lions' key player to fitness so quickly.

Wilkinson's opposite number Stephen Larkham was not so lucky.

The outside half had a damaged elbow from the first Test, and a damaged shoulder from the second. When he couldn't raise his arm at all in midweek he was pulled out of the team and Elton Flatley installed.

Lock David Giffin damaged a hamstring in training, to be replaced by debutant Justin Harrison.

Despite the relative inexperience of their front five, the Wallabies are now clear favourites to clinch the series. 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've no reason to believe that they can't make history twice.