Ormond plays for the Waikato Chiefs in the Super 12

The side, semi-finalists in the National Provincial Championship last year, have selected 10 players with experience in the Super 12.

Nine players including captain Wayne Ormond, fly-half Kevin Senior and full-back Adrian Cashmore have been based with Waikato Chiefs.

Number eight Colin Bourke has been playing for the Highlanders in Dunedin.

"It's going to be a big contest in the forwards," said blind-side flanker Ormond, who was not considered for New Zealand Maori's international against Fiji in Suva on Friday in order to lead his province against the Lions.

"You can't afford to take a backward step or they'll run away with it. They're very strong at the set-piece and we've got a lot of work to cover."

But Ormond said he was confident Bay of Plenty would give the Lions a tough match.

"I'm sure the boys will keep going and nail their jobs. We've been waiting for this game for a long time so it's pretty easy," he said.

They reached New Zealand's National Provincial Championship semi-finals last year, and also enjoyed success in the Ranfurly Shield.

Full-back Cashmore has played for the All Blacks, New Zealand Maori and New Zealand sevens team as well turning out for the Blues Super 12 franchise between 1996 and 2000 before a stint playing in Japan.

"The Lions have chosen a pretty formidable side and are clearly looking to get some combinations ready for the tests," Cashmore, who played two tests in 1996 and 1997, told the New Zealand Rugby Union website.

"In that sense they're probably using us as rugby guinea pigs...and I can tell you the boys are more than happy to be in that position.

"Our guys are fizzing. There's a couple of young guys chewing at the bit. It's going to be huge."

The Steamers' Super 12 players have only recently joined the squad, while coach Vern Cotter has been involved with the competition winners Canterbury Crusaders until last weekend.

Rotorua venue guide

But Ormond is confident his squad will rise to the challenge presented by a strong Lions side.

"For the guys who have been playing club rugby it's up to us Super 12 players to bring them up to that level," he added.

The match is expected to be played in front of a 35,000-strong crowd at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Bay of Plenty:

15-Adrian Cashmore; 14-Filimone Bolavucu, 13-Allan Bunting, 12-Grant McQuoid, 11-Anthony Tahana; 10-Murray Williams, 9-Kevin Senio; 8-Colin Bourke, 7-Nili Latu, 6-Wayne Ormond (captain), 5-Bernie Upton, 4-Mark Sorenson; 3-Ben Castle, 2-Aleki Lutui, 1-Simms Davison.