New Zealand coach Graham Henry is tipping former charge Stephen Jones to start at fly-half for the Lions in the first Test in Christchurch. Henry, the Wales coach between 1998 and 2002, says Jones showed in Wales' Grand Slam campaign that he is the real deal.
"At the moment I would think Stephen Jones would have his head in front by a considerable margin," Henry said.
"Stephen is a world-class player now, a very good goal-kicker, a good kicker from hand and navigates the team well."
England's World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is a possible late arrival to the 44-man Lions squad.
Henry believes it is correct for Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward to leave the door open to players coming back from injury. But even if Wilkinson does prove himself match-fit, then he will have to produce something special to get ahead of the other fly-halves.
"It depends on their fitness obviously, but Clive has permission to do that from the Lions committee and it's a great solution," Henry added.
"But it's a strong side, it's experienced and it's going to be a very good team - no doubt about that."
Henry also picked 10 Welshmen when he was Lions coach four years ago for the tour to Australia, but denied that the current crop owed that much to his time in charge of Wales.
But with Henry's assistant, Steve Hansen, having taking the Wales reins when Henry stood down, there is more than a few Kiwi building blocks underpinning the Welsh revival.
"I may have had a wee, tiny bit to do with it, but I think Steve Hansen had a lot more to do with it," Henry said.
"He's been there recently and helped with setting up the structure of the game plan Wales are playing right now, and had a lot of those players in his team for the World Cup."
Although there are twice as many English players in the initial squad, Henry thinks the Welsh will be well represented in the Test side.
The former school teacher certainly believes that the scrum-half spot will be taken by either of the Welsh pair of Dwayne Peel or Gareth Cooper.
And Henry admits that the All Blacks have heard of Wales' new golden boy Gavin Henson.
"I think we're getting the message over here, from our isolated geographical position!
"Gavin Henson has certainly put his hand up big time, he's played some very good rugby over the past year or so.
"We understand how he's playing and respect how he's doing."
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Gavin Henson has certainly put his hand up big time