Beefed-up Wallabies to keep Lions on back foot

A powered-up Australia will look to win the physical battle against the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on July 26 and avoid the ignominy of losing the Series with a Test to spare.

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Missing key players, the Wallabies were outmuscled for the first hour of the 27-19 defeat in the Brisbane opener, leaving their belated comeback in vain.

Coach Joe Schmidt will look for more power in the collisions from loose forward Rob Valetini and lock Will Skelton, whose collective brawn was missed at Suncorp Stadium as the duo nursed calf problems.

The Wallabies' fruitless efforts to punch holes in the Lions' line while giving their opponents leeway with the ball has been bemoaned by home fans and pundits all week.

Schmidt has demanded more intensity from his squad to keep the Series alive before the third and final Test in Sydney on Aug 2.

"We don't want to be nice and we don't want to be submissive," the New Zealander said on July 24.