Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll has described as "an exciting feeling" the prospect of partnering midfield powerhouse Manu Tuilagi against Western Force tomorrow.

Both players will make their 2013 British & Irish Lions tour bows in a team O'Driscoll will captain, and they have a tough act to follow after Wales centres Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts shone during Saturday's Hong Kong demolition of the Barbarians.

England's Tuilagi might be 12 years younger than O'Driscoll, played in 104 fewer Tests and never previously worn the famous red Lions shirt, but his arrival on the scene is eagerly awaited.

"It is a very exciting prospect playing with him," O'Driscoll said. "He has got a really good range to his game. People see the strong ball-carrier in him and destructive tackler when he makes contact, but he has an array of skills that probably don't get the credit they deserve.

"It is definitely an exciting feeling partnering him and I am looking forward to our first outing. We are very, very strong in the centre. The two [Welsh] boys played well in very difficult conditions and now the baton is passed to myself and Manu to try to stake our claim."

Tuilagi's respect for O'Driscoll is mutual, and whichever midfield permutation Lions coach Warren Gatland decides upon against Australia in the first Test 18 days from now, it might not be until after a lengthy selection debate has ensued.

"For me, it is an honour to be selected and be playing with a legend like him. I'm very excited," Tuilagi said. "Saturday's game against the Barbarians went really well. The boys who played set the bar really high and it's an opportunity for us players to keep that bar high.

"I remember his [O'Driscoll's] try against Australia [at Brisbane in 2001] for the Lions, so it is amazing to play alongside him."

Only two players – his fellow Irishmen Willie John McBride and Mike Gibson – have featured on more Lions tours than O'Driscoll, and his presence on and off the pitch will be crucial in helping mould what Gatland hopes can be a Test series-winning squad.

Meanwhile, Ireland full-back Rob Kearney – one of the Lions' star men in South Africa four years ago – is battling to prevent his Australia adventure from ending before it has started.

Gatland admitted yesterday that Kearney's hamstring injury – confirmed as a grade one tear following scans in Hong Kong – is causing a bit of concern.

While there are currently no plans to summon a replacement for the Leinster player, he clearly has a testing fitness battle on his hands.

"We want to give him some time," Gatland said. "We scanned him in Hong Kong. It came back as a grade one tear, and the medics have put in a plan for the next week or so.

"We feel like we've got cover at the moment with Leigh Halfpenny and Stuart Hogg – and, obviously, Sean Maitland has played quite a lot at full-back, as well.

"But we will see how Rob progresses. There have been some markers put in place, and if we can hit those in the right timescale we can hopefully bring him back. But it looks a little bit concerning at this stage."