Lions scrum-half Matt Dawson is ready to let his rugby do the talking this weekend - and finally close the book on a difficult chapter in a glittering career.

Former England captain Dawson will line up against world champions Australia only a fortnight after he criticised Lions coaching staff in a newspaper article published just hours before the Test series kicked off.

Welsh star Rob Howley's rib injury has now thrust Dawson into the Test spotlight but he was in no mood today to rake up old ground during a first media appearance since his scathing tour diary caused such a stir.

``This is not the time or place to be talking about things like that. The chapter was closed on it as soon as we possibly could,'' he said. ``I know that I was wrong to put that piece in at the time, but this is not a time to reflect on what happened or relationships between myself and the management.

``I think it has been shown by the way I played against ACT and the reaction to that win, and then the reaction for the management to put me in the Test team. I think if any talking needs to be done about that issue, then it should be done at the end of the tour.''

Dawson was carpeted by Lions manager Donal Lenihan and he subsequently apologised to each member of the coaching staff, concluding an embarrassing and damaging episode.

The Northampton star will now be expected to produce the goods on Saturday in front of an 80,000 sell-out crowd at Stadium Australia, with an enthralling Test series tied at 1-1.

Dawson started all three Tests of the 1997 South Africa tour, scoring tries in Cape Town and Johannesburg as the Lions prevailed 2-1, and comparisons between then and now are inevitably being made.

``When it came to the crunch, we had a fantastic ability to stick together in 1997 and fight it out,'' he recalled. ``It might well come down to that kind of situation on Saturday. Hopefully, all the work we've done over the past seven weeks or so - if we need points or are protecting a lead during the last five or 10 minutes - will see the quality of the side come through.

``I think if we could win the series then achievements of '97 and now would be on a par, although they would be very different achievements. Back in '97 we were so much the underdog. Not only were we going to get beaten in the Tests, but every week and in every midweek game.

``To get a series win there was very different to coming over here. There is a different reaction to a win over here than in South Africa. In South Africa rugby union is a national sport whereas over here it very much depends on where you are as to what sport people follow.''

If the Lions can turn things around after suffering a record 35-14 defeat against Australia in Melbourne, then it would represent one of their greatest feats, a fact not lost on Dawson.

``I think the pendulum has swung back to the Australians because of the way they seemed to ooze a confidence about themselves in that second-half,'' he said. ``They stuck out their chests and played in a way we all expect the Australians to play. That is why we've focused this week on expecting them to play like that for 80 minutes.

``But Saturday will be the last time the 2001 Lions wear that jersey, and we certainly want to finish on a positive note. I think this is the sort of game when the adrenaline will take you through, whether you've got tired legs, sore bodies or whatever.''