Alex Payne latest from Lions' tour of New Zealand

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So, we're all set for a decider. Something we hoped for but few believed we'd reach. Red has certainly been the colour this week - from the sea of supporters to Sonny Bill's card. New Zealand is on edge, the Lions are confident - it is the hottest sporting ticket of the summer.

The All Blacks are normally used to dealing in statements and superlatives when it comes to rugby, but there have been a lot of questions flying around this week. 

Steve Hansen has appeared cool and calm, but the media are very jittery. The New Zealand Herald has even provided Kiwi supporters a cut-out-and-keep guide on how to out-shout Lions fans. Anyone remember the tension around the 2011 World Cup final at Eden Park? It feels like we're in similar waters.

Warren Gatland was short and sharp for most of his press conference on Thursday, game face firmly in place. He played down the significance of the occasion, removed the pressure from his players and seemed comfortable with what needs to be done. The Lions are fit, fresh and feel they have yet to deliver their best. That is an amazing sentence to write after an 11-month season.

An indication of just how well the physios and conditioners have done is the fact that the Lions have used only 26 players across the three tests.  or each of the previous three tours it was 32.  

And if you like omens, 12 players will start all three tests. That is the same as 1971, the only time the Lions have won a series in New Zealand; 2-1 under a Welsh coach and Welsh captain.  '17 mirroring '71 in every way? Here's hoping...

Having had the longest selection meeting of his career ahead of the first test, Gatland said that picking the third test squad was one of the shortest. Courtney Lawes was the big debating point, but the management know this may well come down to the final moments and want a bench to manage that.

A number of the Sky Sports crew headed to the Lions Chairman's Dinner on Thursday night. Tour manager John Spencer revealed that he has been contacted by so many of the victorious 1971 party, imploring the current crop to repeat the feat of 46 years ago. He'd not heard from his former team mate Delme Thomas for years, but a text came through saying how desperate he was for the Lions to seal the series.

It seems there are no bigger fans than those who have been there and done it.

A nod to Alun Wyn Jones who becomes the most capped Lions of the professional era this weekend. The Wales captain is no nonsense but has been happy to pump the tyres of his room-mate Maro Itoje.

Jones revealed that he's not been allowed to share the Saracen's cocoa butter, but that he had been in charge of tucking his room mate in at night. As the youngest member of the tour party, Itoje has been charged with carrying the mascot around New Zealand. By all accounts he is a better second row than chaperone - BIL the Lion has gone AWOL on five occasions.  

There was a special mention for Rory Best from Gatland. The Ireland captain may not appear in the Tests but addressed the Lions forward brilliantly after their final training session, giving a sense of just how united the squad is.

We have spent a lot of this tour talking about All Blacks records - winning runs, series victories, fortress venues. But two rays of hope for the Lions - they have won four of their last six internationals, and the third test in both of the last two tours.

I'm delighted to say Sir Ian McGeechan will be back front and centre for us on Saturday. Such is the way of the modern world that news via grapevine often takes off in every direction, but after a good rest and some time with family, you can bet your bottom dollar that Sir Ian will be shouting the loudest on Saturday night.

Finally, the word out here is that Lions fans will actually outnumber the home supporters at the final test. As well as the UK and Ireland, a flood of supporters have arrived from Hong Kong, Singapore and other expat communities. There are even six Sri Lankans in our hotel who said they simply had to be here for the occasion. 

If ever there was a time for the All Blacks' 24-year unbeaten run at Eden Park to fall, this is it. Lions by one. Hold on tight.

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