Hook out to give his all

James Hook wants to give British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan a selection headache.

Hook lines up at fly-half for the Lions' third tour game - a Vodacom Park appointment with Super 14 strugglers the Cheetahs.

Ronan O'Gara and Stephen Jones have already featured as the starting number 10, and now it is Ospreys star Hook's chance - and he said: "There is no point coming here and sitting back. I've got a great chance on Saturday to give it my best."

He added: "There are big boots to fill with Ronan and Stephen having had good starts to the tour, but I will try and make a selection headache there. I'm going to give it 100%."

Hook featured off the bench during Wednesday night's 74-10 victory against the Golden Lions, scoring an interception try and kicking three late conversions.

Had he not been summoned by the Lions, then Hook would have gone to North America with Wales, who had earmarked him for Test duties in the centre.

But he has underlined his preference for the number 10 shirt, and the chance tomorrow he knows must be taken.

"(Lions assistant coach) Rob Howley told me after the game on Wednesday that I would be starting on Saturday. I am thrilled to bits," he added. "I have grown up with rugby since the age of six, and this is the best you can achieve. It means the world to me.

"Ten is my preferred position. If it means playing, I would play anywhere in the back-line, but I do prefer 10.

"You get the ball in your hands a lot more and it helps my game playing at 10, just trying to control people."