McGeechan stepped down as director of rugby at Wasps in May
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan will give all 36 members of his touring party a chance to earn a Test start against South Africa.
"All the players will get an opportunity to stake a claim for a Test place," he said.
"We won't pick the Test team until the week of the Test, the selectors will keep an open mind."
The team landed in Johannesburg on Monday morning ahead of their opening match against Royal XV on 30 May.
The clash is the first of six provincial games before the first Test - the only one at sea-level - in Durban on 20 June.
The 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand, where Sir Clive Woodward was head coach and McGeechan assisted with the midweek side, was criticised for a clear and early division between the Test team and the rest of the squad.
Resounding defeats in all three Tests duly followed, with the tourists beaten by 18 points or more in each and also losing to New Zealand Maori.
But captain Paul O'Connell believes the 3-0 whitewash will give his side an added incentive to perform in South Africa.
"Maybe in 2005 we didn't do the Lions jersey proud, but this tour gives us a chance to restore that pride," he said.
"We must now live up to the tradition of what the Lions is all about."
The Irishman has succeeded international team-mate and fellow tourist Brian O'Driscoll as skipper and believes the squad can repeat the 1997 series win over the Springboks.
"All the talent is there for us to be competitive, we have a great coaching team, but now it's up to us, the players, to perform as a team."
McGeechan, along with forwards coach Jim Telfer, oversaw the success of twelve years ago and admitted he is prepared for another brutal set of encounters.
"South Africa will always be a tough place to tour. Rugby is so important in these parts, it's number one for a lot of people," he said.
"I've never known any easy game in South Africa, and I know there will be no easy games for us in the weeks ahead.
"Knowing the keenness of the opposition will help us too. The players know they are going to be part of a unique Test series that only happens once every 12 years."
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