Lions fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is ``desperate'' to win his fitness battle and face Australia in Saturday's series decider in Sydney.

The England star was stretchered off during the Lions' second-half collapse in Melbourne on Saturday, when Australia levelled the series with a record 35-14 win.

His left leg is in plaster and an appointment with a Melbourne specialist today should decide whether he will make it or join fellow third-Test casualties Richard Hill and Rob Howley on the sidelines.

Wilkinson, though, is keeping his fingers crossed that he can recover to line up against the Wallabies in Stadium Australia this Saturday.

``When the rest of the Lions departed for Sydney, I had to remain in Melbourne for an extra day to ensure that everything is done to help me return to fitness for the deciding Test at Stadium Australia,'' said Wilkinson. It has been a weekend I would not care to repeat.

``Our defeat was hard enough to bear, but as for my injury, at the time I
genuinely feared the worst. The fear was that it was broken, but after having an X-ray, it became evident that it was severe bruising.''

As a result, Wilkinson had to have the leg put in plaster and was prescribed 36 hours of bed rest to try and aid the healing process.

``It seems to have worked,'' he told the Express. `What this means for my chances of being fit to play in the Sydney Test is hard to judge, but the injury does feels as if it is getting better very quickly.

``And the exceptional treatment I have received here has, I hope, given me a decent chance. As long as I am not risking anything, I am desperate to be available.

``The second Test was particularly disappointing after the way we started and we are lucky enough to have another go at the Wallabies.''

If Wilkinson, who has endured a mixed series in terms of his kicking and general play, is ruled out, then Lions coach Graham Henry has three possible fly-half options - Austin Healey, Ronan O'Gara or Neil Jenkins.

Scrum-half Matt Dawson is already primed to replace Howley (cracked rib), while Martin Corry stands out as an obvious deputy for flanker Hill.