British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is pleased that Australia have released two players ahead of their match with the Waratahs on Saturday.

Wallabies boss Robbie Deans has given the green light for Tah's skipper Dave Dennis and inside centre Rob Horne to return to their club in order to face the tourists at the weekend.

Gatland, whose team remain unbeaten after their four opening warm-up matches, believes that it benefits everyone for the pair to be involved.

"It's an opportunity for those players, if they're not going to be selected for the first Test, to have a run against us and perhaps even go back with a bit of information for the Australian side as well," Gatland told the Lions official website. "It's great for the players and it's great for us."

The Lions face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.