Lock Nathan Hines admitted on Wednesday that the thrill of being included in the British and Irish Lions squad touring South Africa had given way to a desire to wear the famous red jersey.
The Scot and his team-mates must wait until Thursday afternoon before knowing whether they are among the 22 players chosen for the opening match against a Royal XV in Rustenburg on Saturday.
Head coach Ian McGeechan, architect-in-chief of a shock 2-1 Test series triumph over then world champions South Africa when they last toured the republic 12 years ago, insisted the fight for Test places is wide open.
He vowed soon after the Lions arrived on Monday for a 10-match tour, including three Tests, that everyone would get a chance to impress in the six fixtures leading up the the June 20 opening showdown with the Springboks.
"I'm going to give every player an equal chance to get into the Test team. I'll pick the Test team during the Test week," McGeechan stressed at a media conference.
Hines surrendered a chance to play for Perpignan in the French championship semi-finals this weekend to be with the Lions and spelt out his ambitions on Wednesday.
"The excitement of being selected for the tour has gone now to be honest. It's all about being selected to play, to put your body on the line for the Lions, and to win," he told the tourists' website.
"Then it is about winning the Test series. I have come close to winning here with Scotland so I'm pretty determined to make sure I don't leave this time without knowing what it feels like to beat the Springboks on their soil."
Hines had words of encouragement for Lions assistant coach Warren Gatland, who said the major challenge for the cream of Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh rugby talent was moulding into a winning team quickly.
"The most successful teams tend to be the ones that have been together for a long time. We don't have time so we've had to come together quickly and now everybody just wants to get on the field.
"Laughing and bonding are important because in rugby you have to be able to trust your team-mates and be prepared to go a long way from them," said 32-year-old Australia-born Hines.
Lions captain Paul O'Connell, fellow Irishman Donncha O'Callaghan, Simon Shaw from England and Welshman Alun-Wyn Jones are other contenders for second row slots.
Whoever McGeechan picks are expected to get the Lions off to a winning start in the north-west mining town against a team comprising 11 players from Currie Cup Premiership side Griqualand West and four from second division Leopards.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
