MICHAEL Owen, the Wales captain and Newport Gwent Dragons No 8, says he will be out to put the record straight when he tours New Zealand with the British Lions this summer.

Owen, whose first aim will be to make the Test team, has come up against All Black back row giants Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw before when Wales and New Zealand clashed in the junior world cup.

"We came off second best then and we'll have to try to put the record straight," said Owen today. "New Zealand have got amazing strength in the backs and they've got some awesome players."

"And we'll be up against Steve Hansen (former Wales coach now assistant to Graham Henry with New Zealand) again. He was a big influence on my career and it would be brilliant to put one over him. But it all comes down to the players on the field, so there's not that much advantage in knowing the coach."

Owen has even been mentioned as a possible Lions captain in some of the games on tour.

"It would be unbelievable to captain the Lions," he said. "But there are so many captains there, there are plenty of choices so we'll just have to wait and see.

"New Zealand are the best team in the world and it's going to be a massive challenge, we've just got to go out there, enjoy it and do as well as we can."

Owen admitted that a few more Welsh players could have been chosen, but is not surprised so many Englishmen are going.

"There probably could have been a few more Welsh players, but there were so many close calls and it hasn't worked out, but you can't argue with the selection process," he said.

"A lot of those English players helped win the World Cup and have dominated the Northern Hemisphere game for the last five years. That experience will be invaluable on the tour."

Neath Swansea-Ospreys star Gavin Henson, also on parade with his fellow Welsh Lions at the Millennium Stadium this morning, is looking to develop his career even further.

"It's been an awesome season with the Grand Slam and Celtic League and to have this as well is unbelievable," he said.

"I hope to get better again and I can't wait to get out there now. I haven't got a clue what to expect but it's a great squad and it will be great to be around them.

"Getting ten Welsh players in isn't too bad though I haven't really seen the whole squad yet. But I think we would have settled for that at the start of the season so we can't complain too much."

l Stadium manager Paul Sargeant revealed that 45,000 tickets had been sold before the Lions announcement for their game against Argentina on May 23.

"We're anticipating a sell-out. It's going to be a fantastic occasion for Cardiff and the Millennium stadium to kick-off what is the biggest Lions tour to date," he said.

"And it shows how far we've come when the Lions are going to base themselves in Wales at the Vale of Glamorgan for the build-up to the tour rather than in London.