British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is set name a 36-man squad on Friday, May 6 for their tour to South Africa.
The announcement will be made by Lions chairman Jason Leonard at around lunchtime on Friday, and it will be streamed live on the team's social media channels, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Also revealed on Friday will be the captain of the tour, with the likes of Alan Wyn Jones and Maro Itoje being tipped for the role.
Ireland should have plenty of representatives in the squad, although one of the big talking points could be inclusion or exclusion of out-half Johnny Sexton.
Welsh number 10 Dan Biggar's form this season will likely make him a shoe-in, while it is hard to imagine England talisman Owen Farrell being left out despite an indifferent season. So it could be between Sexton and Scotland's Finn Russell for the final spot on the plane.
“To put on that Lions jersey is incredibly special,” said Gatland.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be on a number of Lions tours and seeing those players put the jersey on for the first time – you can see the pride in their faces.
“It’s about understanding what has come before you and the famous players who have worn the iconic jersey and those who will come after you. The Lions are regarded as the best of the best and this is the biggest challenge in rugby.
“Once you’ve been selected, once you’ve played for the Lions, that is something that can never ever be taken away from you.”
British & Irish Lions schedule
Subject to change
- 26 June: Japan (Murrayfield Stadium)
- 3 July: DHL Stormers (Cape Town Stadium)
- 7 July: South Africa Invitational XV (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium)
- 10 July: Cell C Sharks (Jonsson Kings Park)
- 14 July: South Africa A (Mbombela Stadium)
- 17 July: Vodacom Bulls (Loftus Versfeld)
- 24 July: South Africa, 1st Test (FNB Stadium)
- 31 July: South Africa, 2nd Test (Cape Town Stadium)
- 7 August: South Africa, 3rd Test (Emirates Airline Park)
