When it comes to Lions' tours, few players know more about the challenges of defeating the touring side than Toutai Kefu - with the Wallaby legend backing Joe Schmidt's side to come out firing in Brisbane.
Fresh off announcing the squad for the First Nations Pasifika XV side that will play the Lions next week in Melbourne, Kefu talked about his own experiences during the 2001 series - which saw him score one of the most famous Wallaby tries to deliver a series win in Sydney.
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"The greatest memories I take back from that is the atmosphere and the environment," Kefu said to reporters on Tuesday.
"That three-game series against the Lions was probably the toughest series that I played in.
"Like World Cups, maybe a semi-final and finals. The pool games back then were quite easy. But certainly, the three games against the Lions was of high quality, probably the hardest rugby I played week to week."
Kefu knows that the Wallabies will come into the match in Brisbane as likely underdogs - with the additional issue that Rob Valetini might be unavailable.
However, Kefu has been in that position before - and knows what it's like to come out on top.
"[They] definitely have a chance," he said.
"I think Fiji was a really good hit out. They're not an easy team, Fiji, but I think the boys would be hugely motivated. I don't think it's a performance that they would have been proud of, but they dug deep to win and that's a bloody good trait.
"I think everyone is writing them off this week. You could pretty much say they're a bit of the underdog, huge underdog. Great position for us Aussies to be in.
"If I was a player, hugely motivating factor to play against some of the best in the world, and this team's unbeaten on Australian soil. So as a player, I'd be hugely motivated to get out there and just rip in."
Kefu is now tasked with coaching the First Nations Pasifika side against the Lions - and is set to take several learnings into the match, having been part of the coaching staff from the AUNZ Invitational XV side that lost heavily to the Lions in Adelaide.
"From the coach's point of view, you know, in some aspects of the [AUNZ XV] game, we just didn't turn up," Kefu admitted.
"Mentally we're just a little bit off the pace. You know, if you don't defend that first kind of crash or collision, they get on a bit of a roll. It's really hard to stop.
"There was some stuff that the team was really disappointed about, like just not being engaged fully, like those quick lineouts. That's happened a couple of times now. I think in Perth there was a quick tap and they scored.
"Not being really engaged for the full 80 minutes was something they talked about. The prep was good, but it's all about performance. I think the boys and the coaches were really disappointed.
"Our mindset is more just thinking about ourselves. We're not going to put too much emphasis on the opposition.
"We know what they're like. We've seen them. They've played plenty of games.
"They could be hobbling into our game after the first test, but we're just focusing on what we have to do. You know, there's a couple of things there that are critical for us to execute.
"If we don't execute, the game could easily turn out like the game on Saturday."
Despite claiming the underdog status, Kefu believes the side still has the cattle to compete - and for many players, this match may loom as their only chance in their careers to play the Lions.
"We've certainly got good players," he said.
"Whoever plays and whoever comes off the bench, the big thing for us is just making sure we've got the right attitude, the right mindset.
"However our prep turns out this week, as long as they, when the whistle goes, you cross the white line, they need to flick the switch and be ready to play."
Several players have already shown strong performances against the Lions - with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Charlie Gamble and Andy Muirhead among them, and with the side set to have their first meetings tonight and set out their weekly goals.
A win would be ideal, but for Kefu, there is also much to consider when it comes to what success looks like for the First Nations Pasifika concept.
"The whole purpose of this is obviously to put their front foot forward for higher honours," Kefu added.
"We've got fringe Wallabies players, we've got fringe Super Rugby players. This is a massive opportunity to showcase their talent. For that to happen, performance is the key.
"Also, I think performance is the best way also to represent our culture and our heritage; where we come from, our families, represent people who have helped us get into this position.
"The score at the end of the day... look, we'd love to win, but if we can put a performance together that the boys are really, really proud of, given them 100 per cent, given all they've got, that's all we can ask for.
"We'd love to win. Wouldn't that be a great fairytale?"
