Taniela Tupou returns for Wallabies after 'gut wrenching' loss to the Lions at the MCG
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Taniela Tupou has returned to the Wallabies starting line-up for the third and final British and Irish Lions Test in Sydney on Saturday night.
The high profile tighthead prop was sidelined from the losses in Brisbane and Melbourne after a dismal Super Rugby season but Allan Alaalatoa's shoulder injury has opened the door for the 29-year-old to remind Australia of his destructive qualities.
Tupou is one of five changes to Joe Schmidt's run-on XV after the highly controversial 29-26 loss at the MCG, which gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
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Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton make their way onto the pitch. Getty
Star flanker Rob Valetini is being "managed" with a calf injury and is replaced by Tom Hooper at blindside flanker.
Veteran halfback Nic White will play his final Test before retiring as last week's starter Jake Gordon drops out of the 23.
Dylan Pietsch will get his first run of the series on the left wing after Harry Potter tore his hamstring in Melbourne. And hooker David Porecki (heel) withdrew on Friday, replaced by Billy Pollard.
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Harry Potter of the Wallabies is assisted from the field. Getty
"The squad was certainly deflated after the gut wrenching end to last week's Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday," Schmidt said.
"The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium, will again help to lift the players in the high pressure moments that we know are coming."
The Lions have made two changes to their starting line-up.
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Scotland's Blair Kinghorn replaces Ireland's James Lowe on the left wing while Ireland lock James Ryan comes in for England's Ollie Chessum.
Andy Farrell's men are aiming to be the first Lions squad to record an unbeaten tour since 1974, which finished with a 13-13 draw in the third Test against the Springboks, and the first to sweep a three Test series since Argentina in 1927.
"We have put ourselves in position to finish this tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history," Farrell said.
"Last weekend's Test match was an incredible spectacle. We are expecting another epic battle this weekend."
The Lions lost to Argentina in Dublin before flying to Perth.
They are 8-0 since arriving in Australia.
"We've always been pretty clear on our goals - to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So we just need to stick to what we said," Lions hooker Dan Sheehan said.
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Lynagh, Nic White, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway
LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter
Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell
