Hunter Paisami and Matt Faessler have both been released by Australia to play for the Queensland Reds against the British and Irish Lions.

The decision to release them for the game on July 2 follows tensions over whether Australia would release players to the Super Rugby sides for the Lions' other matches on their tour.

While Paisami and Faessler have been allowed to return, six other Reds players, including Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, have stayed with Australia to prepare for their warm-up Test against Fiji on July 6.

Lions chief executive Ben Calveley had warned that holding back players for fixtures was contrary to an agreement with Rugby Australia and risked the tour being devalued.

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt then argued it was counterproductive to do so, considering their need to prepare for the three Tests, with the first taking place on July 19.

The Lions' first match on Australian soil is against Western Force on Saturday, but fly-half Ben Donaldson will not be taking part after being retained by the Wallabies.

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"Yes and no," Donaldson responded when asked if he had regrets over not being able to turn out for his club.

"Obviously, it is out of the players' control - we do what the coaches want, we get the schedule, and we come into camp.

"There are four Force boys here [retained by the Wallabies], five back there, so there is a good share back there ready to rip in this weekend.

"It would have been awesome to play - any game you get to play against the Lions is pretty cool - but we are in camp, preparing for Fiji next week, and we are really excited to watch the Force boys play at the weekend."