Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft has expressed his determination to make the most of his opportunity for the British and Irish Lions on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old is in line to start the side's second tour match against Western Force in Perth, having missed out on the Lions' 59-8 win over the Barbarians on Saturday.
Croft, who was part of the 2009 Lions tour in South Africa, admits that he needs to make the most of his chance to avoid being disappointed.
"We have spoken about how you may only get one chance on tour in these preliminary games, and you have to take it," Croft told reporters. "You dare not come off the pitch with regrets that you didn't give it absolutely everything, because you will only have yourself to blame.
"You can go on a Lions tour, play one game and get injured - tour over and you might never play for the Lions again. So why not go out and give it your all? I look at it as possibly the last game of my season, so I will go all out and hope to change that and earn another 'last game of the season'.
"Guys can get selected for the Lions and never wear the jersey through injury or other circumstances, so taking the opportunity when it comes is everything. The mistake is thinking beyond that game, thinking about keeping something in the tank, keeping a few reserves. But you may not need those reserves because your season could end with the whistle."
The Lions take on Western Force in Perth on Wednesday.
Matt Cotton
