Lions set to make decision on North

George North has less than 24 hours to prove his fitness for Saturday’s British & Irish Lions’ series opener against Australia, a decision which may determine Simon Zebo’s chances of making a dream Test debut for the tourists.

If North is unfit to face the Wallabies this weekend, Zebo could be called upon for a place in the matchday 23 after making an impressive debut for the Lions against the Waratahs on Saturday.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland wants a full list of fit and available players for the first Test in Brisbane to be presented to him tomorrow with the touring party’s head doctor James Robson yesterday sounding bullish about the big Welsh wing’s hopes of overcoming a tight hamstring suffered a week ago against the Combined Country.

Dr Robson, speaking before the Lions left Sydney for Canberra and today’s tour match against the ACT Brumbies, did give Lions supporters reassuring news that outside centre Brian O’Driscoll would definitely be on the available list, having rested a groin injury suffered in the line of duty, also against Combined Country. And while the medic was optimistic that O’Driscoll’s fellow centre Manu Tuilagi would overcome a shoulder ‘stinger’ in time to be considered for selection, he declared hamstring strain victim Jamie Roberts a “grave doubt for this weekend”. Robson said North began running again yesterday and: “At the moment I think he is doing very well and has a great chance for being fit for this week. We wouldn’t allow him to play if there was any significant risk. We will only return him to the coaches for selection if we are confident medically he is fine.”

No such concerns for O’Driscoll. “There is no doubt about Brian for Saturday unless he falls over this afternoon,” said Robson.

Gatland’s hopes of having both his big, physical wings back for the first Test at Suncorp Stadium are likely to be stymied, however. Bowe is making terrific progress in his recovery from surgery to stabilise a broken bone in his hand but the Ulster man would not be unduly risked.

“He is running today with a hand splint,” Robson said. “He is doing very well and he will be reassessed by the hand surgeon later this week. Tommy is confounding us. He has good grip strength back and is keen to go. The problem we might have with Tommy is reining him in a bit.”