Veteran Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore can’t wait to face the Lions on two fronts this summer.
The 29-year-old became his country’s most-capped hooker during the autumn and is fighting Tatafu Polota–Naufor a starting spot when Britain and Ireland’s elite come calling next summer.
But Moore hopes the three-match Test series won’t be the only chance he gets to take on Warren Gatland’s troops in 2013.
Moore, who once described Lions hero Keith Wood as his rugby role model, wants Wallaby boss Robbie Deans to let him play for his Super XV side, the Brumbies, even though that clash comes just four days before the opening Test in Brisbane.
''I remember last time they came to Australia, the Brumbies game was one of the best games of the tour, so it's going to be great to have the kind of travelling band that the Lions are in Canberra,'' said Moore.
''It will be fantastic for the city and great for the Brumbies to get that opportunity, so we really want to make the most of it.''
Their chances of ‘making the most of it’ appear far greater now than they were eight months ago before Jake White took over the coaching reigns in Australia’s capital city.
Under the guidance of South Africa’s World Cup winning coach, the Brumbies came within a whisker of securing the Australian conference title and a play-off berth despite having finished 13th the previous season.
And having made massive strides in 2012, Moore is convinced the Brumbies are heading in the right direction for the 2013 campaign that kicks off next month.
''To try and win that Australian conference is a big goal and a realistic goal for us, and it's something we've got to aim for,'' added Moore.
''That's something we came very close to last year and missed out on at the end. We just weren't good enough at the end to get over the line and I think that's motivated a lot of the guys this year.
''Last year we probably flew under the radar a little bit: we may have taken a few teams by surprise, but that won't be the case this year.
''After a good season last year, teams will be really focused every time we play, but that's a good thing for us. That's the position you want to be in – if you want to be a top side you've got to go through that.''
