Warren Gatland has chosen both Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell in his starting lineup for the do-or-die Test against New Zealand on Saturday as the British & Irish Lions seek to inject fresh energy into the best-of-three series. Sam Warburton also returns as captain, with Maro Itoje to partner Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.

With the Lions having little option but to take the game to the All Blacks and get on the front foot, Gatland has sacrificed Ben Te’o’s power at inside-centre for the 10-12 combination of Sexton and Farrell that has already shown flashes of promise on this tour. George Kruis and Peter O’Mahony drop out of the starting XV but otherwise Gatland has kept faith with the side beaten 30-15 by the All Blacks last Saturday.

Sexton and Farrell combined strikingly for 51 minutes of their side’s morale‑boosting 12-3 victory against the Crusaders and also looked comfortable together in the final quarter of the first Test. An extra midfield kicking option is always useful and Gatland will also hope the pair can unlock some more space for those outside them.

“In terms of the backs we have gone with the Sexton-Farrell combination; both have played well and it gives us that attacking option in the 10-12 channel,” said Gatland. “We created opportunities in the first Test and there were a few that we didn’t finish.

“There were lots of positives from the first Test but we were disappointed that we put ourselves in a position to put the All Blacks under pressure and to get back into the game and we let it slip.”

Sexton’s long-time half-back partnership with his Ireland colleague Conor Murray is another advantage.

The need to add more breakdown dynamism and pace into the Lions pack and put the All Blacks’ playmakers under more pressure is also crucial and Warburton’s return as captain is a further indication of Gatland’s desire to reinvigorate the team and confound those who believe New Zealand are set fair for a 3-0 series triumph.

“We saw Maro Itoje’s impact in the first Test and he will bring an edge and a physicality, as will Sam Warburton in terms of pressure on the ball,” added Gatland. “It’s tough on Peter O’Mahony who has done a brilliant job for us. We had to look at the bench and we felt that CJ Stander’s ball carrying and defence was the right choice.”

The Lions had their moments in Auckland, particularly either side of half-time, but fell victim to their opponents’ smart and committed rugby as well as their own inability to finish all the chances they created.

Warburton, who was injured before the tour and rolled an ankle in the opening match, has yet to locate his best form but does have the ability to make life harder for the All Blacks around the tackle area. The 28-year-old Wales flanker captained the successful 2013 Lions squad in Australia and was particularly influential in the second Test in Melbourne four years ago before a hamstring injury ended his tour prematurely.

The talented Itoje, 22, narrowly missed out on starting the first Test in Auckland but made a noticeable impact off the bench and now replaces his club colleague Kruis. While Jones retains his place in an otherwise unchanged front five, O’Mahony, the Lions’ captain last week, has also lost out in the back row to Warburton.

Behind the scrum Gatland has kept faith with his entire back three, with Liam Williams still at full-back and Elliot Daly on the left wing. Both like to play positive rugby regardless of the opposition and will be more alert this time for any surprise quick taps close to their line by the home scrum-half, Aaron Smith.

Any side in the world would have struggled to cope at times last Saturday with the All Blacks’ relentless accuracy and deft offloads but there is still a belief in the Lions camp that this time could be a different story. Having now seen close-up what New Zealand have to offer, they expect to be physically and mentally better prepared.

History, however, is not that encouraging. Only two Lions sides have come back from 1-0 down to win a series, in Australia in 1899 and 1989, and the last time a British & Irish side were in this position, in the 2005 series heading to Wellington, it did not end well, with an inspired Dan Carter contributing 33 points as the Lions lost 48-18. Overall, the Lions have won only two Tests in their past 15 attempts in New Zealand since 1977.

Moreover Gatland has lost two more members of his squad, with George North and Robbie Henshaw both ruled out of the final two Tests after sustaining injuries in the draw against the Hurricanes.

British & Irish Lions starting XV

L Williams; A Watson, J Davies, O Farrell, E Daly; J Sexton, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, AW Jones, M Itoje, S Warburton (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, C Lawes, CJ Stander; R Webb, B Te’o, J Nowell