Australia have been told they must release players for the British & Irish Lions’ warm-up matches.
Lions CEO Ben Calveley has revealed failing to do so would breach their tour agreement.
It comes after Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt suggested his stars would only be available for the Western Force this weekend.
However, the Lions are expecting to face Australia players in all four of their provincial matches against Super Rugby clubs.
Having lost to Argentina in Dublin on Friday, Andy Farrell’s team have now arrived Down Under.
Speaking ahead of the clash with the Force on Saturday, Calveley explained: “We’ll see a competitive fixture at the weekend, and of course, that’s what we’re looking for.
“We want to make sure that our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to that Test series against the Wallabies.
“The agreement is very clear. It says that Test players have to be released to play in the fixtures leading into that Test series, and so that’s our expectation.”
Asked about Schmidt’s comments, he added: “Well, we’ll play the game at the weekend, and we’ll carry on having discussions with Rugby Australia, with Phil Waugh, and the rest of the executive team.
“We’ll take that step by step, but we are encouraged that we’ll see a strong side competing at the weekend at the Optus.”
Calveley continued: “We are clear that in the agreement, it says that test players do have to be released, and we’ll move into the game at the weekend.
“Then what comes after that, we’ll deal with it in time.”
The Lions were beaten by Argentina in Dublin on FridayGetty Farrell’s side will begin their schedule Down Under against Western Force on SaturdayGettyThis weekend’s match will be followed by warm-up fixtures against the Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs and ACT Brumbies.
The Lions will also face an Invitational AU & NZ side before the opening test in Sydney on July 19.
A further clash with the First Nations and Pasifika XV is scheduled for between the opening two tests.
The entire tour will be broadcast exclusively live on talkSPORT this summer.
Farrell will be hoping for a response from his side this weekend after a narrow defeat on Friday.
Argentina inflicted a 28-24 loss at the Aviva Stadium, the first time the Lions have been beaten in their opener since 1971.
British & Irish Lions tour
June 20 – Lions 24 – 28 Argentina
June 28 – Western Force, Perth
July 2 – Queensland Reds, Brisbane
July 5 – New South Wales Waratahs, Sydney
July 9 – ACT Brumbies, Canberra
July 12 – Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide
July 19 – First test vs Australia, Brisbane
July 22 – First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne
July 26 – Second test vs Australia, Melbourne
August 2 – Third test vs Australia, Sydney
On that occasion, they went on to secure a 2-1 series win over New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the Lions won by the same margin on their last tour of Australia back in 2013.
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