Gatland: Dallaglio is essential

'It's not just been his leadership, his performances have been outstanding, too. I would say he has been playing better for us this season than he has for a number of years, because he no longer has the distraction of international rugby.

'If he keeps playing the way he has been playing, he has to go on the Lions tour. He wouldn't just go there to make up the numbers.

'From Clive's point of view, players like Lawrence, Neil Back and Matt Dawson are a good option because of their experience. They may not be automatic choices for the Test team to start with, but they would push the leading Test contenders really hard.

'The crucial thing is that they have experience of going to New Zealand and winning. If it was up to me, I would make sure I had them on board, even if not to play in the Tests, then to act as a reassuring influence.

'People like Lawrence could talk to younger players, offer advice and encouragement and the benefits of their experience. It would be useful to have him around.'

It certainly has been for Wasps. Following Leicester's shock defeat at Leeds on Sunday, Gatland's reigning champions are four points adrift of their perennial rivals at the top of the Premiership table. While the Tigers confront Leinster in the Heineken Cup on Saturday, Dallaglio and Co will rest before home games against Saracens and Worcester.

Then, on the last day of the regular season, the top two go head to head at Welford Road. The prize: an automatic place in the Zurich Premiership Final; Wasps - the masters of the late charge - may yet sneak in.

'There's always a chance we could finish top,' said Gatland. 'We're pretty happy with how things are going at the moment, but it would be nice to go to Welford Road with our destiny in our own hands.

'We have won the title twice by securing a home semi-final and building up momentum for the final, so it would be unusual territory for us to qualify for the final automatically. That would present a different challenge.

'The aim was always to earn a semi- final place, then a home semi-final became our ambition. We have tended to be strong at this time of year and we're pretty injury-free at the moment which helps. But we knew Leicester would have to slip to give us a chance of finishing top.'

Although Wasps will benefit from a weekend break while the Tigers are involved in their blood-andthunder contest in Dublin, Gatland would dearly love his club to be in with a shout of defending their European crown. Nevertheless, he is relishing the prospect of signing off from English rugby in style.

'It would be fantastic to go home after winning a hat-trick of Premierships,' he said. 'That would be a pretty good achievement. It's about leaving something behind to build on. Wasps should be strong for years to come.'