Wing Mack Hansen describes his return to the Brumbies as a British and Irish Lion as an "incredible pinch-me moment". Hansen, who left Canberra in 2021 after 21 appearances for the Brumbies to sign for Connacht, made his Ireland debut shortly thereafter. As a 15-year-old, he was in the stands supporting his hometown club when they handed the Lions their first defeat during their 2013 tour of Australia.

On Wednesday, Hansen will take his place on the bench at GIO Stadium, the same venue where he once cheered for the Brumbies, now as a replacement for the Lions' toughest match in Australia so far. "It's incredible," said Hansen. "Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine I would be back here playing for the Lions, so it is very special."

The fixture will see Hansen face his former team-mates, brothers, and current friends Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan, who will be at scrum-half and hooker for the Brumbies respectively. "I grew up playing against them my whole life. It will be nice - they are two of my best mates," added Hansen. "To play against them again, after not doing so for a while, will be a nice little switch-up."

The Brumbies were the strongest of all the Australian provinces in this year's Super Rugby competition. Despite missing key players like Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, and Tom Wright, Lions coach Andy Farrell is expected to field a squad close to his Test 23. Hansen is focused on securing his spot in the Test series, which begins in Brisbane on 19 July. "It is obviously special to be playing this game, but the ones you want to be putting your name towards are the Tests," he said. "That is what I will be focused on."

Hansen started in the wins over Western Force and the Waratahs and came off the bench in the defeat by Argentina in Dublin. England's Tommy Freeman and Hansen's Ireland team-mate James Lowe have been named as the starting wings against the Brumbies.