At 11.0 this morning Martin Johnson will probably be unveiled as the Lions captain. He led the successful tour of 1997 which yielded a 2-1 series victors over South Africa. This time the challenge is to tame the Wizards of Oz, the defending world champions, Australia.
Irish supporters will harbour hopes that Keith Wood will receive the honour but informed sources suggest that it will be Johnson for a second term. No matter what happens when coach Graham Henry, his assistant coach Andy Robinson and team manager Donal Lenihan name the squad, the arguments will start.
England will dominate the representation with anywhere between 18 and 22 players, with the Celtic cousins left to dispute the remaining places. But what of Ireland and their representation. The media suggest anywhere between five and seven Irish players will be Australia-bound but for three men coaching top teams in club rugby in this country, they would increase those numbers.
Brian Hickey, coach to Cork Constitution, would choose eight Irishmen - four backs in Denis Hickie, Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Henderson and Ronan O'Gara and four up front, Peter Clohessy, Keith Wood, Malcolm O'Kelly and Eric Miller. On his selection he ventured: "I think the Lions will play a very similar type of game to the way they operated in South Africa.
"There will be a huge emphasis placed on mobility and continuity: despite selecting Neil Jenkins for the squad, he might not lend himself to that pattern. Johnny Wilkinson and Ronan O'Gara give you that. You should have plenty of speed out wide and one thing that will be different this time around is that the Lions will not take on the Aussie midfield physically."
Dungannon supremo Willie Anderson opts for nine Irishmen, unashamedly selecting two of the players currently at the club in left wing Tyrone Howe and David Humphreys. "I think you need the balance of speed and strength out wide and Tyrone certainly fits that bill while the hard grounds of Australia would suit David's game and he's a player in great form."
Anderson's Irish contingent would also include Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Henderson, Keith Wood, Malcolm O'Kelly, Jeremy Davidson, Eric Miller and David Wallace. "The Lions need to do the basics well, ie be strong and aggressive in the scrums and win the lineout battle, a key area. In that respect I would bring Jeremy (Davidson) because he is a big-time player.
"The Aussies have the best defensive backs in the game and breaking them down will first have to be done up front."
The St Mary's College coach, New Zealander Brent Pope, also opts for nine Irish players including Geordan Murphy at fullback. "There has always been a case of a springer when a Lions squad is announced, a bit like the Barbarians - and Murphy could be that guy.
"Johnny Wilkinson will start as the test outhalf but I wouldn't be surprised to see Ronan O'Gara grab a test spot eventually."
