Lions 2013: wounded tourists face toughest test to date against Queensland Reds in Brisbane The Lions have chosen a new centre combination in Manu Tuilagi (starting for the second time in four days) and Jonathan Davies, also switching Tommy Bowe to the left wing. An all-Wales back row and England half-backs lend some immediate cohesion. That middle five axis will be crucial. No matter how much you scan the pitch for points of interest the eye always comes back to one figure - Cooper. He is the draw card, the showman, the sporting soap opera star, the outsider shunned by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, the supposed bad boy of Australian rugby. Well, he is the kingmaker, too, a player of extraordinary talent, so often seen to best effect in Queensland colours. They love him and he responds. He has been made captain for the first time since he was a schoolboy at "Churchie" school in Brisbane where the Lions trained on Friday. He was asked if he had his eyes on Wallaby selection, with Deans due to add six more players next week, had a yearning to be involved in the "business end" of this tour. "This is the business end for me," said Cooper without missing a beat. If you're thinking about other things then this game must not be that important in the first place and for me it's very important. It's just great to have a coach that has got a lot of trust in the players. That goes a long way.  A fascinating sub-plot is that the Reds coach, former prop Ewen McKenzie, who played against the Lions in 1989 and was assistant coach 12 years ago, is odds-on favourite to take over from Deans were he to be sacked in the wake of a series defeat by the Lions. The Lions are braced for the havoc that Cooper might wreak. Howley name-checked him, the first time on this trip that the Lions have mentioned the opposition, never mind just one individual "Cooper is very intuitive," said Howley "He has the ability to take the ball to the line and create opportunities. He will have a point to prove to Robbie Deans. He is a person we've spoken about. He'll have a huge influence on the game. It's important we don't give him time on the ball. That is where Warburton and his back-row chums come into play as well as his opposite number, Owen Farrell. Cooper has frailties as well as genius in those hands and feet. He is defensively suspect. The Lions will hunt him down. Cooper described Farrell as "talented but not much of a running five-eighth," a remark that has an element of truth but which will sting. Cooper was sure, though, that it would be "a great duel." And so it will be. Howley believes that Farrell navigates the team well but that there needs to be "quality" in his game management. Farrell has never been daunted by an opponent. He will give Cooper all that he has. That, too, could be a lively skirmish. The first Test takes place here in a fortnight. Rehearsals for that grand performance begin this Saturday.