British and Irish Lions

Australia coach John Connolly has earmarked the first Bledisloe Cup match with New Zealand on June 30 as the international comeback date for full-back Chris Latham.

The Queensland Reds player underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Saturday, and will begin his rehabilitation as soon as possible under the guidance of Wallabies physiotherapist and former international prop Cameron Lillicrap.

If Latham is to return to the international stage in June, he will have played just three Tests before the start of the World Cup in September.

But Connolly believes the timetable is a realistic one for the 72-Test veteran.

"We're aiming for the first All Black Test, which is just inside six months," Connolly told the Sunday Mail.

If everything goes to plan, Latham will miss the opening Tri-Nations clash in South Africa, but will then be available for two matches against the All Blacks and one against the Springboks before the World Cup commences.

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree says The British & Irish Lions will have to be fully focussed to avoid a potential banana skin when they face The Barbarians a week today.

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.