Tagicakibau is a powerful wing

Tagicakibau was expected to be out for at least six weeks with a hairline fracture sustained on 30 April.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wasn't going to miss it because of a broken bone in my leg," he said.

The Waikato Chief wing lines up with former All Black hooker Andrew Hore, flanker Chris Masoe and lock Paul Tito.

Tito was part of the New Zealand Maori team who defeated Fiji last week, while Hore and Masoe were in the winning Possibles side in last Friday's All Blacks trial.

The match will also be special for prop Gordon Slater, who played against the Lions in 1993.

Murphy out to make mark

"I've seen a bit of Taranaki and they are a hard running team," said Lions full-back Geordan Murphy.

"They are very strong with the ball in hand and a direct side. From what I know of Taranaki of old, they are a forward-orientated side and they'll pose us some real threats."

Taranaki: Scott Ireland; Sailosi Tagicakibau, Mark Stewart, Lifeimi Mafi, Chris Woods; Sam Young, Craig Fevre; Tony Penn, Andrew Hore, Gordon Slater, Paul Tito, Scott Breman, John Willis, Chris Masoe, Tomasi Soqeta
Replacements: Phil Mitchell, Hamish Mitchell, Jason Eaton, Richard Bryant, Mathew Harvey, Brendon Watt, James King.