WORCESTER Warriors centre Ben Te’o has been dropped for the British and Irish Lions’ do-or-die Test with New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday (8.35am).

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has paired Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell as twin playmakers in a bid to outflank New Zealand on the counter-attack.

England centre Te'o bashed Sonny Bill Williams into a quiet night in the Lions' 30-15 first Test defeat in Auckland last weekend.

Gatland said: "It is tough for Ben. He's done really well, carried well for us, defended well, so it's been a tough call for him but he will get some time off the bench.

"So we've made a call on the amount of possession and opportunities we've created. We think we did stress the All Blacks at times last week.

"Johnny and Owen haven't started but have had quite a bit of time together," said Gatland.

"It's just given us two ball players and two kicking options at first and second receiver, so we're happy with the mix.

"One concern we might have is that looking at the long-range weather forecast it doesn't look too great for Saturday night.

"So we may have to change how we play tactically.

"And of course defensively we'll have to do a job on Sonny Bill, too.

"He came pretty direct at us and got away a couple of offloads, so it's going to be important we shut him down."

Sam Warburton will captain the Lions, with last weekend's skipper Peter O'Mahony omitted entirely from the match squad.

Alun Wyn Jones has been retained at lock to partner Maro Itoje.

Gatland remains adamant Sexton and Farrell can handle the All Blacks talisman.

"They got pretty narrow, because they played that way in an attacking perspective, so it does open up some opportunities for us if we get the ball back to attack them as well. And that's why we've gone with the combinations we have.

"We allowed Sonny Bill too much time on the ball last week.

"I can't remember Sonny Bill passing the ball in the game, but he got some good gainline for them, got a couple of good offloads away and got them some front-foot ball.

"So we just need to make sure that our line speed, that's important for us, to stop him being as effective as he was. And we've been working pretty hard on that."

Gatland admitted the Lions bosses talked long and hard about potentially loading their replacements bench with six forwards and just two backs.

Ireland lock Iain Henderson would most likely have made the bench had the management opted for the pack-heavy bench.

Gatland admitted Henderson's yellow card in Tuesday's 31-31 Hurricanes draw hindered his cause for second Test selection - but has told the Ulster lock to keep fighting for a place in the third and final All Blacks showdown.

"The yellow card was disappointing, he would have been disappointed," said Gatland.

"I thought his carrying again was excellent, he causes teams a lot of problems.

"I had a chat to him and told him 'we spoke a lot about you and being involved in the 23'.

"Courtney Lawes did very well too when he was on.

"Iain's been causing teams problems with his carrying and I think he's got better from game to game.

"I told him 'just because you're not involved for this game doesn't mean you're not going to be excluded for the next match'."

Lions: Williams (Wales), Watson (England), Davies (Wales), Farrell, Daly (both England), Sexton, Murray (both Ireland), M Vunipola, George (both England), Furlong (Ireland), Itoje (England), Jones, Warburton (both Wales, capt), O'Brien (Ireland), Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: Owens (Wales), McGrath (Ireland), Sinckler, Lawes (both England), Stander (Ireland), Webb (Wales), Te'o, Nowell (both England).