With the Lions tour to Australia now just over 16 months away, we're taking a look at the Wallaby heroes we expect to play a major role against Britain and Ireland's elite.

The man charged with plotting the Lions' preparations for the 2013 tour of Australia says the size of the challenge should not be underestimated.

The city of Melbourne is all set to be one of the success stories of the 2013 Lions tour.

You wonder what poor old Jack Clowes would have made of the announcement that the 2013 British & Lions will be 'dressed' by the exclusive British shirt-maker Thomas Pink.

Lions legend Richard Hill believes there could still be a place for his old team mate Brian O'Driscoll on the 2013 tour to Australia.

Phil Vickery believes Lions players and supporters alike will head Down Under in high spirits in 2013.

The Lions' defeat to Australia A in Gosford in 2001 was the first reverse of what would prove to be a heartbreaking tour Down Under.

The Lions' 1989 tour of Australia may have ended as a sensational success but the Test series began in the worst possible fashion.

Andy Irvine believes there are plenty of worthy candidates for the role of Lions coach in 2013.

Lions tour manager Andy Irvine is convinced the 2013 adventure in Australia will be a huge success both on and off the field.

Gareth Delve hopes his experiences in Australian Rugby will help him realise a long-term ambition in 18 months time, especially now that Melbourne has been announced as a venue for two Lions fixtures in 2013.

Mike Catt may have only played seven times for the Lions across two tours but the World Cup winning utility back has experienced almost every emotion with the best of the four Home Unions.

The Lions' 40-point hammering of the Queensland Reds in Brisbane sent out a clear message to the Wallabies ahead of the three-match series in 2001.

The 1971 Lions tour will be forever remembered as one of the greatest success stories ever witnessed in British and Irish sport but it wasn't all plain sailing early on.

Younger Lions supporters will remember Jim Telfer for his influential role as forwards coach on the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa, but the older generation will look back just as fondly on his contributions as a player in both 1966 and 1968.

The Lions' second match of the 2001 tour of Australia resulted in another huge win as Graham Henry's men marched towards the 200 point barrier in 160 minutes of rugby.

With the Lions tour to Australia now less than two years away, we'll be taking a look at the Wallaby heroes we expect to play a major role against Britain and Ireland's elite.

With Wales taking on the Wallabies on southern hemisphere soil two years before the Lions do exactly the same, we thought we'd take a quick look at a couple of the key battles that could be repeated in 2013.

The second Test between the Lions and the Wallabies in 1966 looks destined to remain a record breaker for ever more.

Neil Jenkins will forever be remembered for his amazing achievements with the 1997 Lions.