Joe Roff will play Heineken Cup rugby with French club Biarritz next season, and possibly with Newport the year after - but only after fulfilling one of his lifetime ambitions.

The 61 times-capped Wallabies wing, who says Newport are his preferred option if he comes to Britain in 2002, had no intention of packing his bags until Martin Johnson's Lions came calling in Australia.

His decision to take a year off from the Australian scene was made knowing it could end his Test career, given that players plying their trade in foreign parts are rarely considered.

The prospect of featuring in a Lions Test series though, meant that any European adventure would have to wait until the current Wallabies campaign ends.

"It is the risk you take when you decide to do something like that, knowing that you might not get the chance to play for Australia again," he said.

"This could be my last Test series in Australia. I didn't want to miss out on playing against the Lions, and I haven't been so excited about a series in a long time.

"We see the guys from New Zealand and South Africa four or five times a year, and you get used to playing against them, but there is something completely different about the Lions.

"If this wasn't a Lions series, then it would have been tough to get yourself up following the Super 12 games, but this is different, exciting and fresh."

Roff was still at school when Finlay Calder led the Lions to a 2-1 series victory 12 years ago, Australia losing by a combined aggregate of eight points.

"It would be a shame if it came down to being settled by a penalty kick, but that could well happen," said Roff who would have been delighted that teammate Jeremy Paul was cleared to play this morning.

Meanwhile, Wales hooker Robin McBryde will have a scan on his injured knee today. But Lions manager Donal Lenihan admitted: "It is highly unlikely that he will play again on tour."

*Tomorrow's match is being shown live on Sky Sports 1 and Extra from 9.50am (BST). S4C will show the whole match as live, starting at 6pm (BST).