Sir Ian McGeechan is backing Maro Itoje to be Lions captain and resigning Alun Wyn Jones to be the tour's midweek captain.
Former Wales boss Warren Gatland will take charge of his third consecutive Lions tour next summer when he leads the best of the home isles' players to face world champions South Africa.
World Cup-winning coach Sir Ian ponders what Gatland should do with his veteran players including Jonathan Davies, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau, Johnny Sexton - and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, questioning at what point does experience cease to be an asset.
In his column for The Telegraph, he argues that while Wales skipper Jones is a Lions "legend", his influence will be both in training as well as on the field.
He said: "Itoje can also play in the back row, as can so many of the potential Lions locks, which is why I'd take six second rows.
"James Ryan will go, and I really rate the versatile Iain Henderson so would definitely take him, as I would Courtney Lawes who was brilliant in New Zealand. I'm also a Joe Launchbury fan, while Jonny Gray, Johnny Hill, Scott Cummings, George Kruis and Quinton Roux are also in contention.
"As for Alun Wyn Jones, he's no longer a potential Lions starter, but he'd be my midweek captain. He is a born winner and Lions legend, and on such a short tour Warren will desperately need players who can lead by example, especially in training as well as on the field."
On a more positive note, Sir Ian believes Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit has the potential to be as unstoppable as JJ Williams in 1974.
"There is no substitute for pace, but this potential bolter also glides past would-be tacklers without pausing for breath", he writes.
"Used properly he could wreak havoc, although he is prone to worrying defensive lapses. However, with rock solid campaigners like Anthony Watson, Jonny May and Jack Nowell available, he's a luxury Warren can afford."
He believes Liam Williams will be in contention on the wings as Stuart Hogg will be nailed on to start at full-back.
Tipping Finn Russell to be the fly-half frontrunner for the Lions, Sir Ian believes Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar - "who Warren rates really highly" will both travel - while it'll be a tour too far for Johnny Sexton.
As for flanker, Sir Ian tips Jamie Ritchie to have a superb 2021, and can "see him operating as part of a beautifully balanced back row that includes Billy Vunipola at No 8 and Tipuric or Tom Curry at openside" while Taulupe Faletau is "bound to come into the reckoning" at No. 8 too.
