The British and Irish Lions have told Australia they will be in breach of contract should they fail to release their Test players for the full slate of tour matches. Aussie head coach Joe Schmidt has permitted Western Force Wallabies such as Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, and Nic White, to play in Perth's opening contest this Saturday against the Lions. But the top players from the from the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies, including the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini, will only join the fray for the Test encounters, as things stand. Schmidt's manoeuvre can be seen as safeguarding his squad, especially considering a tune-up match with Fiji scheduled for July 6 in Newcastle, which comes the day after the Lions clash with the Waratahs. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Still, Lions CEO Ben Calveley has made his feelings clear to the Australian hosts, reminding them of the commitments spelled out within the touring deal, as coach Andy Farrell's contingent require formidable adversaries to properly gear up for the Test series kick-off on July 19. "We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series," Calveley remarked. "The agreement is very clear – it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. "We'll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with (Rugby Australia chief executive) Phil Waugh and will take it step by step. "It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just from a performance standpoint but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well." Calveley did not disclose what measures the Lions might take if Schmidt remains steadfast in his current policy, but it's evident that the touring side holds the upper hand due to the substantial revenue they bring in for host nations. The Aviva Stadium was packed out and bathed in red for Friday night's farewell match, showcasing the commercial clout of the British and Irish rugby elite, who continue to attract large audiences. Argentina triumphed in an enjoyable but messy match 28-24, and considering they're ranked three spots above the Wallabies in fifth place globally, they could be seen as a more credible tour destination than Australia. There have also been suggestions to include France in the current rotation, which is rounded off by South Africa and New Zealand. For the time being, however, matches against other countries will be added to existing destinations rather than forming stand-alone tours. Calveley stated: "There are different teams around the world that we might be interested in playing against in future. Traditionally that's been consigned to a pre-tour element – Dublin, Murrayfield – so we'll probably focus on that,". "We're also interested when we go away on tour to see if we can bring in other countries like Japan and Fiji to feature in those games as we build up to the Test element. "We're open and we're flexible, but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure." Calveley made the comments during a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony in Perth's Kings Park, a 20-minute First Nations cultural experience.