Fly-half Ronan O'Gara will become the fifth different player to captain the tourists when he leads them out against the Emerging Springboks on Tuesday night © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: British and Irish Lions tour

Teams: British and Irish Lions | Wales

Lions captain Ronan O'Gara has urged his side to make a statement against the Emerging Springboks on Tuesday night while setting personal target of claiming the famous No.10 jersey for this weekend's second Test with South Africa.

O'Gara will become the fifth different skipper on tour, and fourth Irishman, when he leads the side out against the shadow Springboks at Newlands following on from Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Phil Vickery and Donncha O'Callaghan. And in a rallying call ahead of the game he declared that his players have every chance to force their way into the Test team reckoning after the tourists' narrow 26-21 defeat at Kings Park on Saturday.

"Being realistic, there are four or five places there but the most important thing is that we make a statement as a team," said the Munster stalwart. "There may be certain individuals who'll benefit from that but at this moment who knows who those people are. If we don't perform as a team then none of us have a chance. What I've learnt in my career is that the collective is far more important than the individual."

O'Gara is also convinced that he has chance to steal the starting No.10 role from Stephen Jones and is determined to keep the pressure on his Welsh rival with a strong showing on Tuesday night.

"I was told it was close leading into the first Test and I'd like to think that it is even more open after the weekend," O'Gara said. "I think the most important thing for me is that I've played well and the tour has gone well and I've kept the pressure on Stephen and that has to be my goal tomorrow night.

"Of course I want to run out on Saturday and start the Test, that's my goal this week, but I have this huge honour of captaining the team so my focus is taken a little bit by that."

As a captain, O'Gara intends to call on his experience with his province and with Ireland to ensure the Lions get back to winning ways.

"I think as a 10 you have to be a leader anyway," he explained. "That's maybe more by actions than words but I think I would like to bring honesty and respect for each other. I think that when there is an attitude to play for each other then anything is possible but you have to buy into each other and play for each other. Then you can overcome any obstacle and that has always been my mantra. If you believe in each other then you can succeed."

In that respect, O'Gara has complete respect for his provincial team mate O'Connell who he says has harnessed the support of the Lions' Class of 2009.

"There's massive belief and that is so important," said O'Gara. "I know Paul and he is unwavering in his faith and belief and we talked again this morning about it. He's been fantastic and I hope he gets what he deserves out of this tour. He's a phenomenal player and great leader and I think fellas have bought into him and he needs to be appreciated."

O'Gara insists the Lions will not be taking their latest opponents lightly and revealed that tensions have run high in training in the lead up to the clash as the battle for Test jerseys intensifies.

"From our point of view it is probably a Test match for a lot of us because being realistic a lot of us will not play in the Test games," admitted O'Gara. "So in that regard it may be the last game that some of us will play so it should be treated with respect. We are well aware of how good they will be, they are pushing for inclusion in their own Springboks squad, they've got everything to play for and so have we so it should be good.

"We had a good training session this morning and it got a bit heated on our side which is good I think. When players get a bit ticked with each other it shows that there is something at stake and that was the first time we've seen that from the non-Test team as there are positions up for grabs. I've seen that before in training sessions and sometimes you explode a day to soon and let's hope that's not the case."

The Lions line-up will include two new props - John Hayes and Tim Payne - who have only just joined up with the squad but O'Gara insists the team will hit the ground running.

"Obviously the team has only had one training session but attitude will overcome that I think. These are good players and it's only the coaches' opinions that they were not included in the first place, who's to say they are any worse than the other players who were included. So I don't think we'll be lacking in any regard with two new props playing. For everyone else I think what is most important is how we play for each other."