Lions star starting vs Australia 'owes' his wife after leaving her 'in the trenches'

Andrew Porter claimed a starting Lions Test jersey then declared he owes his missus one for holding the fort back in Ireland as he realised his dream. The prop, and wife Elaine, welcomed their first child Max into the world in May, and Mrs Porter has been doing the dirty work with her husband on duty down under. Porter has been handed the loose-head spot, with Ellis Genge demoted to the bench, for tomorrow's second Test with the Wallabies in Melbourne where the locals are baying for blood.

He will come up against an Australian side desperate to square the series, after the 27-19 Lions win in Brisbane last weekend. But Porter, 29, has got the soft option propping against Wallaby giant Allan Alaalatoa compared to what is going on, on the other side of the world. Porter said: "I have learned that babies get very big when you're away from home. Yeah, my wife is at home looking after the baby. He's nine weeks now.

"I could say it's not easy for me but I don't think my wife would like that too much. I wouldn't get much sympathy. She is at home looking after our baby at the moment.

"She's the one in the trenches at home. I'm in the trenches over here. Well, I can't really say that. We're looked after here quite well. But it's a sacrifice on both ends.

"She's there with sleepless nights at home looking after him and I'm here representing my family, my country, and representing the Lions. It's two different kinds of sacrifices. But I'll definitely owe her for this for a long time anyway."

Bristol's Genge has been one of the emotional drivers on this trip and a leader of the pack but took his relegation on the chin with the Lions looking to nail the series on Saturday.

Porter added: "He's the dad of the squad. You come into this squad with perceptions of different players. You're so used to playing against them in the Champions Cup or Six Nations but your perceptions are dashed pretty much the minute you step in the door.

"He was the first one to congratulate me and he handed out my cap to me last week instead of my dad. He's a great fella and a great player."

Porter will make up an all Leinster and Ireland front row alongside hooker Dan Sheehan and tight-head Tadhg Furlong with the Lions looking to make history at the MCG.

The tourists won here 2-1 in 2013 and a victory on Saturday would be the first time they have backed up series wins in the same country. A crowd of around 90,000 is expected at the MCG as the Lions bid to make history and boss Andy Farrell has urged them to seize the moment.

"It's up there with one of the biggest games of my life anyway," said Porter. "How often can you say you've done this down in the MCG with 90,000 plus people there and the series on the line."

Boss Farrell added: "We've got the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history. There's a determined Australian side that's in our way that's going to try and stop us to do that, so it's a hell of a test."

Bundee Aki starts at inside centre with Sione Tuipulotu struggling with his hamstring and England lock Ollie Chessum is promoted from the bench with Joe McCarthy crocked.