Lions place in the balance for injured Tom Rees

Danny Cipriani's improved form is not expected to earn him a tour place with England rival Toby Flood ready to edge ahead of James Hook, one of the many Welsh candidates being hampered by the Ospreys' fall from grace, if the Lions go with three outside halves. If they opt for just two, the tourists would have to use Flutey as a back-up No10 as Stephen Jones and Ronan O'Gara cannot be expected to be in all 10 match squads on tour.

There are around eight places that will go right to the wire, including world player of the year Shane Williams, whose defence is being seriously questioned by McGeechan and his fellow coaches. It may seem strange to penalise one of the few mercurial talents in British and Irish rugby because he is vulnerable to the high kick to the corner but the Lions know this will be a key weapon and that is why Delon Armitage will be considered for both full back and wing. England prop Andrew Sheridan is another whose tour place is under pressure with Ireland's Marcus Horan in the frame.

With so many of the Lions management either involved with Wasps - McGeechan and Shaun Edwards - or formerly at the club - Warren Gatland and Rob Howley -there were fears of bias but the omission of James Haskell will prove this is not the case.

McGeechan watched a two-try performance from young scrum-half Joe Simpson help beat Bristol and keep alive Wasps' Heineken Cup hopes yesterday.

The race for those Cup spots and the top four Premiership play-off positions is tight with second placed Harlequins and London Irish, in fourth, both on 61 points - five behind leaders Leicester who beat Saracens 16-13 yesterday. London Irish lost 21-17 at Northampton and Toby Booth, their director of rugby, will be hoping captain Bob Casey is ready to return from a bicep injury for the last game away at Worcester on Saturday.