England centre Will Greenwood has seen his hopes of lining up for the Lions in next Saturday's First Test against Australia in Brisbane destroyed by injury.

Greenwood suffered an ankle ligament problem during the Lions' 41-24 victory over New South Wales Waratahs yesterday, ruling him out of Test match contention.

Unlike his England colleagues Mike Catt and Dan Luger, though, Greenwood's tour has not come to an untimely end.

The Lions' medical staff are quietly confident that Greenwood could be fit to face the Wallabies in Saturday week's second Test.

``Will had an MRI scan this morning, which showed some ankle ligament damage, but there is no crack there,'' said Lions manager Donal Lenihan.

``He is not available for selection this weekend, but we are hoping that he might be available for the second Test.''

Greenwood looked a certainty to wear the Lions number 12 jersey, partnering Brian O'Driscoll in midfield, but that role now seems destined for Rob Henderson.

``It is a big blow to have both Catt and Greenwood unavailable for this game, but we have got to get through it,'' said Lions coach Graham Henry.

``Rob Henderson has played very well on the tour, and he will come into
consideration, as I imagine would Scott Gibbs after our next game on Tuesday.''

The team to tackle New South Wales Country, likely cannon-fodder for the Lions on Tuesday, includes full-back Iain Balshaw, whose seemingly automatic Test place suddenly looks far from guaranteed.

Bath and England star Balshaw was distinctly unimpressive during yesterday's victory, and Henry has now handed him a mid-week opportunity as the sole survivor from the New South Wales game.

``It is pretty important that the team plays well on Tuesday, which would provide a lift to the week,'' Henry added. ``There are still some positions up for grabs, and it is a very important game for a number of people. This is the most important week of the tour so far.

``There are positions available in the Test side, and the players playing on Tuesday have been told that very clearly.''

Balshaw apart, though, the only players on duty who would appear to have serious hopes of making the Test 22 are number eight Martin Corry, prop Jason Leonard and scrum-half Austin Healey.

Both Gibbs and Irish wing Tyrone Howe make their tour bows after being drafted out to Australia as respective replacements for injured duo Catt and Luger.

Team (v New South Wales Country): I Balshaw (Eng); B Cohen (Eng), M Taylor (Wales), S Gibbs (Wales), T Howe (Ireland); N Jenkins (Wales), A Healey (Eng); J Leonard (Eng), G Bulloch (Scotland), D Young (Wales, capt), J Davidson (Ireland), M O'Kelly (Ireland), C Charvis (Wales), M Williams (Wales), M Corry (Eng).