The England scrum-half has not featured in a Lions starting XV for more than three weeks, when New Zealand Maori inflicted a 19-13 loss on the tourists.

But he accepts that the final few days in New Zealand will stretch mental and physical resoures.

“I am pleased to get a start, having not started a game since the Maori, so I am looking forward to it,” he said.

“To be honest, I couldn’t really care what game it is, I just want to start. It was getting to a stage where I was just sort of training to be on the bench, so I am really pleased to be involved tomorrow.

“Of course, ultimately, the enjoyment of it on the playing side was to be part of a winning Lions Test series. That has not happened, but it doesn’t mean the players have not enjoyed the tour. We’ve gelled superbly well as a bunch of players.

“Let’s make no bones about it, this week is a very difficult week. All the players and all the management have had their hearts set on being successful out here, and really that means winning the Test series.

“In the bigger picture, it has been unsuccessful because we’ve not won the Test series,” Dawson added.

“It is always going to be difficult. You can’t lose perception of how rare a Test series victory is for the Lions, not just in New Zealand, but anywhere in the world. It is a very, very difficult task for the players and the coaches.”

The Lions midweek combination, expertly coached by Ian McGeechan and Gareth Jenkins, are determined to make it five wins from five starts before returning home.

They’ve already seen off Taranaki, Wellington, Southland and Manawatu, although an Auckland side containing All Blacks Joe Rokocoko, Sam Tuitupou, Steve Devine and Brad Mika will take some stopping.

“The midweek team have been fantasti, culminating in a pretty awesome display against Manawatu. I think the performance they put in (against Manawatu) would have beaten most provinces that were in front of them,” said Dawson.

“We are fully aware we need to be at that sort of level to win against Auckland, because they will be a lot better side than Manawatu and Southland, the last two sides the midweek team have played.”

Several players, Dawson included, hope to press Test selection claims ahead of Sir Clive Woodward’s scheduled team announcement on Wednesday.

But whether the likes of Hodgson, full-back Geordan Murphy, hooker Gordon Bulloch and flanker Martyn Williams will make any headway with Woodward remains to be seen.

Jonny Wilkinson, meanwhile, has not yet been ruled out of the Lions’ third Test selection plans – despite suffering another ’stinger’ injury.

England star Wilkinson was hurt during Saturday’s 48-18 second Test defeat against New Zealand in Wellington, experiencing neck/shoulder problems after making a tackle.

Wilkinson sustained numbness in his arm as a result, continuing a catalogue of injury troubles to haunt him since the 2003 World Cup.

Hodgson, who starts for the Lions against Auckland, and Stephen Jones are on stand-by to replace him in Saturday’s final Test.

But the Lions say that no decision has been made on Wilkinson’s availability to face the All Blacks at Eden Park.

“Jonny continues to receive treatment, and continues to improve,” said a Lions spokesperson. “A decision on availability for selection will be made at the appropriate time.”

Wilkinson has looked a pale shadow of the player who helped steer England to World Cup glory 19 months ago, and he was outplayed by his opposite number Dan Carter at Westpac Stadium two days ago.

It will be a major surprise if he regains full fitness in time for Saturday, with the Lions having earlier lost his fellow World Cup stars Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill through injuries, while captain Brian O’Driscoll’s tour ended prematurely because of a dislocated sholder.