Lions coach Graham Henry believes only a World Cup Final could come close to the intensity that will be on show in Sydney tomorrow during the deciding clash with the Wallabies.

"I don't think they get any bigger, perhaps a World Cup final, but I haven't been involved in any of those," he said. "I think it is something that you are going to look back on over the years - July 14 2001 at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. It's going to be a very important occasion for all those involved. It is quite monumental, really - and historic - no matter which way it goes."

Henry has also paid tribute to the work of his squad and the back room for their efforts. "There is a lot of wear and tear, and the guys have played 11 months of rugby, which quite frankly is ludicrous," Henry added.

Talking of Jonny Wilkinson's return to fitness he said, "I think that James Robson (Lions doctor) and the medical staff have done a superb job, the way they looked at all the contingencies," Henry said. "It could have been a serious injury, but they made sure that it didn't develop into one.

"We should give Jonny a huge pat on the back. He showed huge courage and fortitude this week to do what he's done. The respect I have for the young man is total. It just shows you his attitude, playing at the top level in international rugby."

While the Wallabies have lost Larkham, two other factors have not been lost on Henry - Rod Macqueen's last match as Australian coach and a Test debut for outstanding ACT Brumbies second-row prospect Justin Harrison.

"I am sure that the Australians will want to send him (Macqueen) off with a positive," Henry said. "He has done a marvellous job for the Australian team and there is no better way of thanking him than by doing the job on the paddock. That will be an extra motivation, for certain.

"We think that Harrison is the best middle-rower we've played against on tour. We talked about the Brumbies game and said he was good enough to be in the Australian team - I hope the Australian selectors weren't listening to us."

The Lions coaching team have also been working on those areas where they were found wanting during the 2nd Test.

"There are certain technical issues that we've looked at," conceded Henry's assistant Andy Robinson. "But a lot of it is about concentration and the tempo that we play at, particularly at the lineout, so we have looked at our lineout. We knew coming over here that every lineout was going to be keenly contested - on both sides.

"We've adapted our lineout slightly, and also our scrummaging. We scrummed well in the first Test, but we let them off the hook in the second.

"They did us on a couple of scrums, and that was down to our mental concentration. We knew that Michael Foley (Wallabies hooker) was a very good scrummager, and I think that he has pulled the pack together.

"He is very much 'in your face' and very proud of the way he scrummages. Obviously, we have been bitten now and we've just got to do something about it. The way to do that is to win the next game."