James O'Connor ready to put his body on the line against the British and Irish Lions NEW Wallabies five-eighth James OConnor has issued a battle cry to the charging Lions forwards who will seek to bash him out of the first Test, saying: "The shoulders are ready. O'Connor has won the most hotly contested and controversial position in Australian rugby, beating out Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua to wear the No.10 jersey against the 2013 Lions. But with that honour comes the knowledge that the Lions will send an endless barrage of giant ball-carriers towards his 180cm, 89kg frame to expose the Wallabies defensive line through the middle of the field. "It's not new for a five-eighth, that's the point everyone attacks, at the No.10," O'Connor said. I'm not usually the biggest bloke on the field, I've been used to that my whole life. I'm very much up for this opportunity and the occasion, I can't express how pumped I am, I just want to get out there. It's a huge occasion and I just can't wait - the shoulders are ready. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans declared his team will meet fire with fire, saying: "I can assure you they will hit the ground running, they know what's coming ... it's going to be a battle of wills." O'Connor has been named to start in the No.10 jersey having played only one Test in that position, and regularly starting at fullback for the Melbourne Rebels. But Deans has also opted to start playmaking options Christian Lealiifano and Barnes to give his team unpredictability and versatility. "That's the way we approach our work, we're not too hung up on the numbers on peoples" backs, we do have a versatile group," Deans said. That's one of the advantages we have. O'Connor added: "I'm quite confident, there's a lot of guys around me who have helped my transition there, and the game plan does suit us quite well," O'Connor said. James O'Connor runs with the ball during an Australian Wallabies training session at Ballymore Stadium on June 20. We do have a lot of guys who can jump in at different stages so we can tap into our different skill-sets. Deans would not confirm who his goal-kicker would be, with O'Connor likely but Lealiifano and Barnes also capable with the boot. "There's a lot of guys who can kick and have been kicking pretty well, the main thing is we're getting the points," O'Connor said. [Lions kicker Leagh] Halfpenny has been pretty magical with his boot at the moment so we want to limit his opportunities, and make sure we take ours. Lock Kane Douglas won the coveted starting lock position alongside skipper James Horwill for his physicality, while Kurtley Beale will provide spark off the bench as a utility.