• The British and Irish Lions won last week's first Test 27-19

• The Lions are looking to secure back-to-back tour successes in Australia

• Recommended bet: Australia +5.5 handicap

The British and Irish Lions face Australia in the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday knowing a win will wrap up the series with a game to spare.

Last weekend's 27-19 victory in Brisbane has put the Lions in a commanding position as they seek their first series success since they last toured Australia in 2013.

For their part, the Wallabies will be looking to ensure next week's third Test in Sydney still has plenty riding on it and they may draw inspiration from last autumn's 42-37 victory over England at Twickenham, a contest that featured several players from both sides.

The latest Australia vs British and Irish Lions second Test odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Lions head coach Andy Farrell has made three changes to his starting XV from the first Test, two of which are enforced, with Sione Tuipulotu and Joe McCarthy dropping out with respective foot and hamstring injuries.

Ellis Genge is the other player to be omitted, although he is amongst the replacements, with Bundee Aki, Ollie Chessum and Andrew Porter the players to come in.

Farrell had planned to make a fourth change to this team, but after initially being selected, centre Garry Ringrose was forced to withdraw due to concussion, meaning Huw Jones retains his place.

There are also four changes on the Lions bench, with Jac Morgan, James Ryan, Blair Kinghorn and Farrell's son, Owen, all coming in.

Australia are boosted by the returns of forward Rob Valetini and lock Will Skelton from respective calf injuries, as well hooker David Porecki, who had been struggling with a head knock. All three players come straight back into head coach Joe Schmidt's side.

The latest Australia vs British and Irish Lions second Test odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

The Lions have won all seven of their matches since landing in Australia and followed up last weekend's first Test success in Brisbane with a 24-19 midweek triumph over the First Nations & Pasifika XV.

The Lions have won just one of their six tours since the turn of the century, although that sole success came in Australia in 2013 (a 2-1 series triumph).

Australia have only won one of their previous four matches, a narrow 21-18 success over Fiji earlier this month, and they are currently ranked sixth in the world, below both Ireland and England.

The latest Australia vs British and Irish Lions second Test odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Australia were overpowered by the Lions during the first half last weekend, but they will take encouragement from their improved display after the restart, while the returns of Valetini, Skelton and Porecki should also provide a boost.

There were just eight points separating the sides come the end of the first Test and things are usually tight when the Lions are on tour against Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, with eight of the last 13 such meetings ending with five points or fewer between the sides.

The Lions, albeit with a completely changed team, were also only narrow winners in midweek, beating the First Nations & Pasifika XV by five points.

With so much at stake, expect another fiercely competitive contest with not much to separate the two sides, and although Australia may ultimately come up short, they can prosper with a +5.5 start in the handicap market.

Back Australia with a +5.5 handicap at 8/5 with LiveScore Bet