George Smith ready to go as Wallaby wants history to repeat against British and Irish Lions

THE desire to play in a second Lions series burned strongest inside George Smith the moment he was told he couldn't.

THE desire to play in a second Lions series burned strongest inside George Smith the moment he was told he couldn't.

After many months of "will he, won't he?" Wallaby speculation following his return to the Brumbies, it was only in late May that all the ducks lined up for the 110-Test veteran to make a historic return.

A chat with Test coach Robbie Deans had confirmed mutual interest, and requisite contracts with the ARU and Smith's Japanese club Suntory were signed off.

But then, playing against NSW a day before he was to be named in the Lions squad, the unthinkable happened.

Smith got injured, and even more remarkably for one of Australia's most durable players, the 32-year-old even had to leave the field.

Smith's knee was busted, and his face was like thunder.

"I threw the dummy out of the cot," Smith said.

"I walked off, they wanted me to get off quick. I just took my time and went up the change-room tunnel. I wasn't happy.

"They assessed me in the change rooms and said it was a 12-weeker."

The measure of Smith's brilliant career is his ability to unearth shortcuts on a field no one else sees, and instantly the flanker devised one to the Lions series.

Informed he was no chance of playing the Lions with a grade two medial ligament tear in his knee, Smith told his body they'd be ready for the first Test, just five weeks away.

"I set myself to get down to five," he said. "Once I got that diagnosis I worked back from the first Test match, so I am here basically one week late - not six weeks early."

Hard work in the rehab room saw Smith join back up with the Wallabies on Sunday for the first time since 2009, and typically confident, instantly threw his hand up.

"I'm ready to go. I definitely would not have accepted (the call-up) if I was not fit," Smith said.

"For me to be involved in this series, or be in camp, I am very, very pleased it has happened. I would be relishing the opportunity if I got the chance."

By George, he?s put his hand up

The message has been heard. Deans, who had planned to pick Smith against the Lions before his injury, is believed to be considering the flanker for a bench spot for the second Test.

If he plays, Smith would become the first Wallaby to play in successive Lions series, 12 years apart. With the series on the line for Australia, Smith's experience would be invaluable, not least for the fact he was in exactly the same situation as a 20-year-old flanker in 2001.

Smith admits as a carefree rookie he didn't weigh himself down with anxiety in those dreadlocked days but said senior leaders lifted the Wallabies from defeat to victory in the seven-day turnaround.

He believes the current Wallabies are equally well led by James Horwill and Will Genia, and says the 2013 crop is not only "resilient" but undaunted by the Lions after the first Test.

"There's no intimidation factor there, they know they can play against this team, and play at a high level and a high tempo," Smith said.

"They will take confidence from playing against a team and knowing that if not for a couple of missed opportunities, the game could have been theirs. They just have to park last week, take the positives and work on the things that are needed, and focus on getting it right this weekend."