WALES outside half Stephen Jones makes his first start for the British Lions in a powerful team chosen to take on the formidable New Zealand Maoris on Saturday in a match unofficially dubbed as 'the fourth Test'.

Wales' Grand Slam hero Jones arrived late on the tour because of commitments with his French club Clermont Auvergne.

But the outstanding number ten in the Six Nations Championship now gets his big chance ahead of England ace Jonny Wilkinson, himself a late inclusion in the tour party after an injury-ravaged 18 months since the World Cup.

Lions backs coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "This is Stephen's chance to put down a marker for a Test place. "It's great to have him in the camp and he is match fit because he has played up until very recently and it's a great opportunity for him."

But there is the lurking presence of Wilkinson in the backgroud, and it isn't known yet whether head coach Sir Clive Woodward is playing a waiting game regarding his line-up for the first Test on June 25.

Jones is one of four Welshmen in the Lions team, joined by wing Shane Williams, who also gets his first start, Tom Shanklin, who plays on the other wing, and leading openside flanker Martyn Williams.

And Newport Gwent Dragons number eight Michael Owen, prop Gethin Jenkins and scrum half Dwayne Peel are all on the bench.

Woodward has gone for size and power in the team to take on the Maoris.

The Lions front-row alone - England trio Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson and Julian White - weighs in at more than 54 stone, with second-row giants Simon Shaw and Paul O'Connell providing further bulk.

While Wilkinson waits, the likes of Sheridan, centre Gordon D'Arcy, scrum half Matt Dawson and fit-again Scottish number eight Simon Taylor all have opportunities to press their Test match claims.

Sheridan's solitary England cap was gained as a replacement against Canada last autumn, but after the Lions scrum struggled to make an impact during opening tour victories over Bay of Plenty and Taranaki, it is an area which will concentrate Woodward and his coaching think-tank.

And the 26-year-old Sale Sharks forward, renowned as one of English rugby's physically strongest players, could hardly have been handed a better chance.

"We have a lot of respect for the Maori front row," said Lions coach Andy Robinson.

"Everybody has been saying that New Zealand forward play in general has not been as it was, but I don't think that's been the case.

"I think they have put a lot of attention into their set-plays, and as we saw in the Taranaki game, these guys are very good scrummagers.

"It is going to be a huge battle up front, and it is important to dominate in that area."

Taylor, meanwhile, has recovered from a hamstring injury, and will look to thrust his name into Test back-row contention following Lawrence Dallaglio's sadly premature tour exit.

"Simon is raring to go," added Robinson. "Having seen the good performances of the back-row over the past two games, we want Simon to perform to that level and put pressure on everybody in fighting for that Test spot."

Woodward fields six of the side that started against Bay of Plenty last weekend, including tour skipper Brian O'Driscoll, while Owen is on bench duty before a flying visit home to be with his wife Lucy for the birth of the couple's second child.

The team comprises seven Englishmen, four Welsh players, three Irish and one Scottish, with O'Connell given vice-captaincy duties to O'Driscoll.

Victory for the Lions over a Maori side that contains nine All Blacks would undoubtedly crank the tour up a gear and send clear warning signals to their Test series opponents.

The Maori, as ever, fancy their chances, but they've never beaten the Lions in seven previous attempts between 1930 and 1993.

"We had a tough game against Taranaki and we expect an even greater challenge on Saturday," said Woodward.

"It will be physical, but we have named a fresh, strong side who will respond well to what will be an intense game.

"We are very much focused on going game by game, working through the combinations, working as a unit and giving each of the guys the opportrunity to challenge for Test places."