Lions centre Jonathan Davies has insisted Warren Gatland's squad needed the two-day break from training extended to them ahead of the series-deciding third Test against the All Blacks.
Gatland and his coaching staff received some criticism this week for allowing the players to have a two-day break in Queenstown, with several squad members posting on social media of them bungee jumping, boarding speedboats and drinking.
The Lions adopted similar methods on the tours to Australia in 2013 and South Africa in 2009 in the last week on tour, going on to win the third Test matches on both occasions.
Davies, who has featured for 80 minutes in both Tests in New Zealand so far, has argued the players needed a rest after long club and international seasons, adding it is essential if they are to beat Steve Hansen's side at Eden Park.
"For us, if you look at the tour as a whole, I think being away now into our sixth week, we've expended a lot of emotional energy already and I think there is a need to recharge the batteries," Davies told Sky Sports News HQ.
"For everyone involved in this week, it will be one of the biggest weeks of their whole career and emotions will take care of themselves.
"It's making sure physically you're in a good place, you're well rested and to beat the All Blacks you need a full tank of petrol, so you're going to need a bit of rest and hopefully save a bit of the legs, especially after the long season the boys have had."
Having featured for every minute in the three-Test series victory over Australia four years ago, should Davies last the full 80 minutes on Saturday and the Lions achieve victory, he would join a select group of five legendary Lions.
Only Willie John McBride, Ian McLauchlan, Mervyn Davies, Gareth Edwards and J.P.R Williams have won two Lions series while playing every minute of Test action.
He would also be part of only a second ever Lions series victory in New Zealand and the first since 1971, but Davies says the squad are not focused on history heading into the fixture.
"Everyone is talking about the fact the Lions haven't won a series since 1971 down here but I think what we want to achieve is something special for ourselves, not related to any other accomplishment," he added.
"We know how hard we've worked and we know how hard the task is. All the games have been so hard and I think just making sure you have the detail in your prep and the clarity you need to go up against the best team in the world.
"They're going to be hurting from their loss last week and we need to make sure we take our chances like we did last Saturday. We were clinical and when we got into the 22 we came away with points a lot of the time and we need to keep driving that.
"For periods of that game in the second Test we were under the pump because our discipline cost us and they were getting easy points, and for us to be able to know once we got in that area that we could take away something, it gives huge confidence.
"But they don't lose very often and they won't like it and that's one of the best things for us: the challenge we're going to have is going to be an almighty one."
Watch the Test series decider between the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand from 7.30am on Sky Sports 1 HD.