NOW the Lions must show their teeth as the battle for supremacy between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres reaches a crescendo.

The circus, as the Australian media calls it, has moved on to Sydney for the final week of the tour, and it's all to play for with the Test series level at one win apiece.

But the Lions are battling against adversity wracked by injuries and dogged by persistent rumours about spirit in the camp.

Sources close to the Lions claim it is an unhappy tour, players dismayed at the harsh unbending regime of coach 'headmaster' Henry.

Past Lions captains who are out here leading travel groups, ranging from Phil Bennett to Bill Beaumont, to Finlay Calder, to Willie-John McBride were all extremely critical of the way the Lions collapsed in the second half at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium.

On that basis it is difficult to see how the Lions can turn it around in the final Test in Sydney on Saturday.

For the Wallabies are in the driving seat after that rip roaring second 40 minutes while the Lions are clearly on the back foot.

With Rob Howley, Richard Hill joining the list of players ruled out of the tour and it likely to be a nervy week regarding Jonny Wilkinson's injury the Lions are up against it finding a fit 22 players.

Fitness will be a problem, too, as the Australians gradually get into gear ready to defend their Tri Nations title while the Lions are nearing the end of a gruelling non-stop ten months of rugby.

Have they got it in them for one final fling? That is the question rugby fans from both camps want answered.

It has to be said the signs don't took good with all those injury problems, rumours of disharmony (Matt Dawson was right after all if that's the case) and the ominous signs that the world champions are running into form.

The impact of the Lions, meanwhile, continues to be enormous as the non rugby union city of Melbourne continues to marvel at the support of the weekend, the record breaking crowd and the effect on everyone.

The Lions game started its build-up 15,yes 15, pages into the sports pages of Melbourne's biggest newspaper as Aussie rules, rugby league, the Ashes series and Pat Rafter all took priority not to mention racing.

But by Sunday it was on the back and even front pages of the same paper.

"This was great theatre - take-a bow time for a football code that enjoys fanatical support in much of the world, especially the Southern Hemisphere, and yet exists so far out on the fringes as to be almost underground in Australia's sporting capital," wrote the leading columnist.

Now Victoria is talking about forming its own super 12 team and already the city is missing the Lions.

"The Lions come this way only every 12 years which is a pity. Their highly colourful travelling army added a dimension to Melbourne's celebrated sporting culture never quite seen before," added the same columnist.

So those who claim the British ' Lions are becoming an anachronism in an increasingly professional age couldn't be more wrong. They are more popular than ever.

Long live the Lions - but victory and glory on Saturday? That could be a step too far.