Meet The Fox, The Horse and The Energiser… North lifts the lid on his Lions team-mates who will face the Aussies on Saturday

George North and his British and Irish Lions team-mates are gearing up for Saturday's mouthwatering first Test against Australia. But before the two teams go head-to-head, the Wales star gives Sportsmail the lowdown on the men who will line up alongside him in Brisbane.

Time to shine: George North sheds light on how his Lions team-mates can hurt the Australians in Saturday's first test in Brisbane

LEIGH HALFPENNY (Full back)

What a class act. He works so hard and always gives you everything. He is Mr Reliable because he is always there for you. People see the way that he has kicked on this tour, but what people don’t see is the hours and hours and hours he spends practising. 

Mr Reliable: Leigh Halfpenny has been sensational for Wales recently and North is confident he can carry that into the Lions Tests against Australia

ALEX CUTHBERT (Right wing)

The Horse has an unbelievable work-rate and is a massive winger with a very physical style. Hopefully, the more often he and I can get our hands on the ball, then the better the outcome is going to be for the Lions because it means we’re getting good possession.  

Massive: Alex Cuthbert can cause damage on the wing if he finds his form and peaks at the right time for the Lions

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL  (Outside centre)

One word: legend. My first clear memory of watching the Lions is O’Driscoll’s performance at the Gabba in 2001. I won’t tell him that was 12 years ago because he might not pass the ball to me. On and off the pitch he is a role model. I’ve never seen a man take so many hits then get up and play so well. 

Peerless: Brian O'Driscoll's experience and ability could prove the difference when it comes to taking on the Australians in the three-test series

JONATHAN DAVIES  (Inside centre)

The way Fox has been playing on this tour means he has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet — he has made himself undroppable. 

Defensively solid and his attack is so subtle. He does the graft, too, the nitty-gritty defence and the work-rate around the park. He is just tremendous to play with. 

The Fox: Jonathan Davies has performed exceptionally well so far on the tour, and has become one of the first names to make it onto the teamsheet

JONNY SEXTON (Fly-half)

I love the way he controls the game. He is confident, aggressive and in the heat of battle he has a clarity in the way he gives orders. It is funny seeing him scream at a bloke the size of Paul O’Connell. You need that gritty, I-am-your-leader type guy at 10.  

Confident: North is impressed by the way Irishman Jonny Sexton controls the game and dictates the pace from the No 10 position

MIKE PHILLIPS (Scrum-half)

He is one of a kind, that’s for sure! I saw a documentary on American Football and one of the coaches had a saying: ‘Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.’ That’s Mike. He is the energiser and he can shout when he needs to.  

The energiser: Mike Phillips is a big-game player who, as North puts it, is 'one of a kind' when it comes to performance at the highest level

ALEX CORBISIERO (Loosehead prop)

Mako ‘Mak Attack’ Vunipola has been playing some outstanding rugby, but Corbs has made an impact since arriving too with his  work-rate and his carrying in the loose. It says everything about the quality of competition in the squad that a guy called in as a replacement is in the team for the first Test.

Making waves: Alex Corbisiero (centre) was selected to start against Australia over Mako Vunipola in Warren Gatland's most surprising pick

TOM YOUNGS (Hooker)

He is a little ball of muscle which makes him so hard to stop. For a small guy, he throws himself around with no regard for his well-being, running hard, tackling hard. Tom is just the sort of forward you want against Australia. 

Beast: North describes hooker Tom Youngs as a 'ball of muscle' who is willing to put his safety on the back burner if it means winning the ball for his team

ADAM JONES (Tighthead prop)

I can’t imagine a scrum without Adam Jones in it! He is the essence of the modern prop — scrums hard, gets himself around the park and is always in my ear telling me to ‘work, George, work!’ He is inspiring to play with. He gets through his fair share of tackles, too.

Colossus: North says he can't imagine a scrum without the formidable figure of Adam Jones mixing it up in the middle

ALUN WYN JONES  (Second row)

He is your token workhouse, the boilerhouse man. Just like Roy Keane at United he just always seems to be involved in every move. I don’t know how he hits so many rucks in a game. He runs himself to death and that’s what you need at Test level. 

Workhorse: Alun Wyn Jones (left) is compared to Roy Keane at Manchester United by North because of his commitment and importance to the team

PAUL O’CONNELL  (Second row)

A man who simply demands the best from everyone. He prides himself on doing the little things well, which means the bigger things will come. Training with him for the past month or so you see how professional he is to be in such amazing nick at the age he is and carry that frame around. He leads from the front and calms the ship. 

Fearsome: Paul O'Connell demands the best from his team-mates and has proved an influential figure so far on the tour Down Under

TOM CROFT (Blindside flanker)

needs to stop finishing tries like that on the wing or he’ll take my place in the team. He is such a fine athlete, getting himself all over the park. He grafts hard at the breakdown to get the ball for you and he is no slouch when he has the ball in his hands, either. 

Grafter: Tom Croft (right) will be hoping to carry his impressive warm-up form into the opening Test in Brisbane on Saturday

JAMIE HEASLIP (No 8)

I’ve been very impressed by Jamie, not only as a physical specimen but his footwork in contact, his visual awareness of others around him and the space that he runs into are all great. It’s been a tough competition between him and Toby Faletau but obviously he got the nod this week and I’m looking forward to playing with him. 

Specimen: Jamie Heaslip is preparing to battle the Aussies from the No 8 position and North believes he can be a genuine asset to the Lions

SAM WARBURTON  (Openside flanker, captain)

He is the pinnacle of professionalism because, whether it is a massive high like being named captain of the Lions or a gutting low of a long injury lay-off, he takes it all in his stride. He doesn’t say much but when he does you know it’s going to be something special. He puts his head where no man should put his head during games and he gets his reward for it. 

You know he’s put in a good shift after a game when he has to shuffle his body to look at you because he can’t move his neck left or right. He is a good friend of mine and somebody I’m looking forward to having the honour of putting that jersey on with on Saturday.

Pride in battle: North admits he will be proud to pull on the British and Irish Lions jersey to play alongside his good friend, countryman and captain, Sam Warburton