Dan Biggar could be the surprise name when Warren Gatland announces his British and Irish Lions squad on Wednesday at midday.
Gatland concluded his final selection meeting on Tuesday afternoon with England’s Joe Launchbury, George Ford and Mike Brown all set to be absentees from his 37-man party to tour New Zealand this summer.
Another surprise selection could be Worcester’s England centre Ben Te’o, who only made his Test debut last year.
Teo’s international opportunities have been limited by the form of Owen Farrell, but he has impressed Gatland and his lieutenants who have closely monitored his progress at the Aviva Premiership club.
Ford, meanwhile, looks to have lost out behind Wales No.10 Biggar, with the Ospreys fly-half featuring among a likely double-figure Welsh contingent in Gatland’s expected 37 or 38-man party.
England’s representation is set to be their largest since Clive Woodward selected 20 for the Lions’ 2005 New Zealand expedition, but Scotland, despite winning three recent Six Nations games, could be left with full-back Stuart Hogg as their solitary squad member.
Wings Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland, lock Gray and flanker Hamish Watson all have their admirers, while prop WP Nel would surely have made it but for injury, yet 2013 Lions tourist Hogg looks to be Scotland’s only clear-cut choice, with Seymour pushing hard behind him.
Lions tour manager John Spencer will announce the squad, being joined by Gatland, his coaching staff and captain, who is expected to be Wales flanker Sam Warburton.
Gatland then has 40 days to departure for New Zealand, with recent Lions history suggesting at least two injury or suspension-enforced changes likely before then.
The Lions kick off their 10-match trip against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3, with the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders, Maori All Blacks and Chiefs all on their agenda before the first Test three weeks later.
