Aussie Tuipulotu's joy and relief at being made a Lion

Sione Tuipulotu believes "divine intervention" has been at work to help him achieve his dream of returning home to Australia to play in the red shirt of the British & Irish Lions.

The 28-year-old Scotland captain, who hails from Melbourne, feared his chances were over when a pectoral injury kept him out of the Six Nations championship and prevented him playing a single game so far this year.

But the soon-to-return Glasgow Warriors centre was left "ecstatic" when his name was read out among coach Andy Farrell's squad for the eagerly awaited tour on Thursday.

It's the culmination of a long, bumpy road for the one-time Melbourne Rebels and Australia U20 player, who left the country to make his rugby name overseas and has ended up becoming captain of Scotland after taking up eligibility as the grandson of Greenock-born Jaqueline Thomson.

Back in 2013, he recalled, he was cheering for Australia when the Lions came calling to win 2-1.

"I was on the other side of the fence and I just remember all the individual battles on that Lions tour," he told reporters in Glasgow after learning of his selection.

"I'm made up to be going home. I'm scared I might be a target! But what are the chances that four years down the line (after signing for Glasgow) I would be touring Australia with the Lions? I honestly feel like that's divine intervention. That's why I'm so grateful and thankful."

Tuipulotu is due back in action after his long break within a fortnight and will provide a formidable midfield with clubmate and Scotland centre partner Huw Jones - or "Huwipulotu" as they're affectionately known.

But he expects a formidable challenge from Joe Schmidt's team, who he helped beat as Scotland captain last November.

"This Wallaby team have been building now and obviously had a really successful autumn," he said.

"And if there's one thing I know about Australians, it's that there's an ego there and they back themselves. So if you think you're gonna walk in there and they're gonna lie down well I think you're a bit delusional. It's going to be a very tough series.

"But honestly I'm so grateful they've selected me. I was so dark over those first couple of weeks when I got hurt, just because of how well I was playing and my emotions were so positive. Wow, it's such a relief for me.

"I'm not embarrassed to say that I wanted this so bad. It's a goal I had right from the start of the season: I really wanted to go on this tour.

"I was constantly thinking, 'that's me done.' I suppose that's the emotions you go through the rollercoaster of being an athlete. I'm on the top of the rollercoaster now but I just want to get back on the field."