Moody has recovered from the knee injury he picked up in training

Flanker Lewis Moody has been forced to withdraw from the Lions team to play Otago in Dunedin on Saturday.

The Leicester and England player was named in the starting line-up despite struggling with a knee injury.

However, he has been replaced by Ireland's Simon Easterby while Easterby's place on the bench will be taken by Wales' Michael Owen.

Moody now looks unlikely to play any part in the first Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch next Saturday.

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Moody was to have lined up in the back-row with Welsh pair Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones, who makes his tour bow after replacing the injured Simon Taylor.

Despite withdrawing Moody, Lions assistant coach Ian McGeechan said: "Lewis could have played, but with all these things you need to make sure that you are doing what is right for the player and in this case, it is giving him just a bit more time.

"As coaches, we need to take on board the advice of the medics and can confirm that he is entirely on course to be available for the Southland game."

Prop Andrew Sheridan is on the bench after shrugging off an ankle problem.

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Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward is edging closer towards finalising his Test line-up to face the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday week.

Among those looking to impress will be Charlie Hodgson and Chris Cusiter, who are reunited at half-back following their impressive contribution in helping the Lions defeat Taranaki.

The Lions will be captained by Scotland hooker Gordon Bulloch, who follows Brian O'Driscoll and Martin Corry in leading the tourists on their 11-match trip.

Bulloch had to have stitches after a training ground clash of heads with Ireland prop John Hayes on Monday.

There had been speculation that the two players had come to blows but that was dismissed by Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward.

The incident occurred at Monday's open training session in Christchurch "in front of 1,000 people", said Woodward.

"There hasn't been a single incident, and if there had been I would have told you about it," said the Lions boss.

"Maybe there should have been (an incident) - we would have been better prepared for the Maori game," he added, referring to the 19-13 loss in Hamilton on Saturday.

Lions team to face Otago: G Murphy; D Hickie, W Greenwood, G D'Arcy, S Williams; C Hodgson, C Cusiter; G Rowntree, G Bulloch (capt), M Stevens, S Shaw, D O'Callaghan, S Easterby, M Williams, R Jones.