Ben Earl has hailed his experience with The British & Irish Lions so far as ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’ and now has his sights set on history.

The No.8 has impressed in his outings on Tour so far and will have a final chance to stake his claim for a Test spot against an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide this weekend.

The all-action 27-year-old is loving being in a new environment and being on the same side as those he has previously enjoyed fierce battles against.

“It’s been great. It’s been unbelievable,” Earl added. “It’s the coolest thing to be able to play with players that previously you were previewing on how to stop them.

“I can wholeheartedly say that it’s the best thing I’ve ever done by a mile. I’ve learnt more in the last five weeks than I probably have in the last four years in terms of seeing the game differently, playing with different people and competing on the training pitch.

“But it’s also been learning that, actually, going into a rugby performance you don’t need to do seven days of going into a monastery and coming out on a Saturday and being able to play.

“You just have to work out what you’re good at, what you’re going to do as a team and try and do it and see where you’re at after 80 minutes. That’s pretty cool.”

Earl is one of five England players in the starting XV this weekend, with Henry Pollock packing down beside him in the back row.

His new Saracens teammate Owen Farrell is among the replacements and could be set for his first appearance on his fourth Tour.

Farrell’s first, in 2013, brought victory over the Wallabies in Australia – an achievement Earl has set his sights on matching, and even surpassing, in the coming weeks.

“There’s a big thing that we’ve been speaking about – being one of the best Lions teams ever,” he said.

“You can’t be the best Lions team ever and lose 3-0 in the Test series or not win many games. But also it’s how we go about things.

“Games like this one you have short preparation, sore bodies and are at the end of a tough two-week block, so you’ve got some excuses there if you wanted to roll over and not put your best stuff forward.

“But then you’d be doing yourself, the jersey, the brand itself a complete disservice.”