The guessing game is reaching its peak prior to tomorrow's announcement of the 37-man Lions squad for the Oz odyssey.
Compared to previous tours, with just 10 matches and 37 places, there doesn't seem to be anything like the same need for utility players. Tailoring one's cloth to measure up to the opposition, the Lions' management have said they will want backs, especially outside backs, who can front up in the physical stakes as well as threaten with pace. Likewise size at the tail of the line, and two lineout options, given the Wallabies are such outstanding competitors at the front and middle of the line.
Quite then how the Lions intend to attack the world and Tri-Nations champions will be intriguing. England opted for a wide, multiphase, high-tempo passing game, with counterattacking a key part of their weaponry. Wales, on the other hand, employed barging tactics up the middle and often as not opted for aerial ping-pong.
England are collectively the best about, but the management won't want to overload the touring party with one nationality. England, after all, barely put away an understrength Australia last autumn and some marginal decisions may be influenced by both nationalities and personalities.
That said, all six outside backs could be English. Ian Balshaw, a real find and in some respects player of the championship, and Matt Perry are shoo-ins. A cloud hangs over nominal first-choice winger Dan Luger, who hasn't played since early February against Wales due to a shoulder/neck injury.
The inventive Austin Healey wouldn't need his scrum-half versatility to make it anyhow, while a 37-man squad allows for a `flyer' in flavour-of-the-month Jason Robinson. Ben Cohen's physique and armchair ride with England, amid serious suspicions about his defence, could edge him ahead of Denis Hickie and Dafydd James.
Last autumn Hickie would have been a deserving Test contender but despite assurances that no player would be judged on one outing, the vibes are that an exception will be made for him. A lack of matches due to a broken hand and last Friday week's avoidance of contact in Thomond Park, plus the decision to kick away a four to two break-out, admittedly left a bad impression. But talk about giving a dog a bad name? Hickie deserves to go ahead of Cohen or James.
The English and Irish midfield should be buttressed by one from Wales, though how the Test pairing shapes up (Catt to dovetail with Wilkinson, or Henderson with O'Driscoll?) will be intriguing. Time waits for no man, not even Scott Gibbs. True Gibbs ran in two tries from a yard out against Italy, but Rob Henderson ran in three from nearer half-way, and whereas Gibbs was replaced against France, Henderson tore them apart - O'Driscoll revelling off his offloads. The greater need for a quasi outside centre as opposed to a straight-running inside centre should bring Mark Taylor aboard.
Ronan O'Gara's place-kicking, temperament and ability to control a game may have nudged him ahead of the mercurial if unlucky Gregor Townsend, while the selectors would be entitled to debate whether to take a third out-and-out scrumhalf (most probably Kyran Bracken) or use Healey as cover there to free up another slot.
The lack of matches (along with occasional scrum problems) could hurt Ireland's props the most; Peter Clohessy suffering more from the lack of exposure as Darren Morris has come along to show his ability to pack down both sides. But despite another awkward day in the scrums John Hayes might still make the cut as the most effective prop contender of all around the paddock. And like O'Gara, imagine what that could do for Hayes' development.
Which two from four will accompany Keith Wood in the hooking department is a real puzzler. No more than a hesitant hunch says an all-Celtic trio, with Phil Greening's wayward arm and penalty count confining him to standby.
There's an argument for making Wood, the Irish Harlequin, captain ahead of Johnson but an English captain completes a more balanced ticket and Fester can still do his thing. Alongside Johnson, Danny Grewcock, Scott Murray and Malcolm O'Kelly command the most leg room, leaving one from Ian Gough, Simon Shaw, Steve Borthwick and Jeremy Davidson. Jezza's Lions' tour credentials could just shade it.
Similarly the names of the English back row and two of the Welsh trio look cast in stone. A dip in form caused by injury appears to have eliminated Kieron Dawson as the second openside, while the sudden about-turn in the comparative health of Budge Pountney and David Wallace has elevated the latter's chances. It would mean a distinct contrast in the opensides available, but Wallace would be an enervating and brave selection.
The aforementioned need for line-out options at the tail possibly rules out a third openside, and the underrated Anthony Foley for that matter, in which case Eric Miller could be rivalling Joe Worsley and Martin Corry for the last slot. Miller does have the stamp of a Lion which, relative to intervening achievements, could be his lucky card.
Ultimately that would make for 18 Englishmen, eight Irishmen, seven Welshmen and four Scots.
Full back - Iain Balshaw, Matt Perry; Wing - Austin Healey, Ben Cohen, Dan Luger, Jason Robinson; Centre - Brian O'Driscoll, Will Greenwood, Mark Taylor, Mike Catt, Rob Henderson; Outhalf - Jonny Wilkinson, Neil Jenkins, Ronan O'Gara; Scrumhalf - Matt Dawson, Robert Howley, Kyran Bracken; Prop - Jason Leonard, Tom Smith, Darren Morris, Phil Vickery, John Hayes; Hooker - Keith Wood, Gordon Bulloch, Robin McBryde; Second row - Martin Johnson, Scott Murray, Danny Grewcock, Malcolm O'Kelly, Jeremy Davidson; Back row - Richard Hill, Colin Charvis, Eric Miller, Lawrence Dallaglio, Scott Quinnell, Neil Back, Budge Pountney.
