Farrell names eight Ireland players in Lions team as he opts for strong side
Maro Itoje will captain the side, partnering with Joe McCarthy in the second row. The starting XV includes several players considered to be first choice, such as half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell.
Adding some flair from the bench are back-rower Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith. Both England stars have the chance to demonstrate their readiness to face the Wallabies on 19 July.
Pollock was set to start in Saturday's shaky 21-10 win over the New South Wales Waratahs but pulled out shortly before kick-off due to a tight calf. He has since recovered from the injury.
The all-Irish centre pairing of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose has been selected, while Blair Kinghorn will make his first start at full-back after joining the squad late due to his Top 14 commitments with Toulouse.
Tommy Freeman and James Lowe are tipped to take up the wing positions against Australia in Brisbane, both featuring in the line-up, with Mack Hansen providing additional back-three cover from the bench against his former Super Rugby franchise.
Ellis Genge, the standout loosehead prop on tour, and Tadhg Furlong, a three-time Lions tourist, will be starting on either side of the scrum. Furlong is looking to regain his match-fitness after a season plagued by calf and hamstring injuries.
Dan Sheehan has been selected as hooker.
Tom Curry, usually an unstoppable force, has struggled to hit his stride Down Under but has been given the openside role in a back row that includes Ollie Chessum, who provides a crucial line-out option.
Jack Conan is set to play at number eight, with Chessum likely providing second-row cover should Itoje or McCarthy suffer injuries, given that flankers Josh van der Flier and Pollock are named on the bench.
The starting XV comprises eight players from Ireland, five from England and two from Scotland, with no room for Welsh openside Jac Morgan in the 23-man squad.
The Brumbies, who reached the Super Rugby semi-finals before losing 37-17 to the Chiefs on June 14, are the toughest team the Lions will face in Australia outside of the Tests.
Head coach Farrell acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying: "In 2013 the Brumbies beat the Lions in Canberra and this year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby – so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us,".
He also highlighted the special occasion for Mack Hansen, who will be returning to his home town to represent the Lions against some of his former team-mates.
Lions line-up: B Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), G Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England, capt), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
Substitutes: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), J van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), H Pollock (Northampton Saints/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), M Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
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