“I saw that he has been announced Ireland captain again and he has experience.

“When we announce a squad of around 65 players next January, you have probably have half-a-dozen strong candidates for Lions captain.

“What we will be looking at is how they are performing and then make a decision come April time.”

O’Driscoll himself says that if he was offered the job he would gladly accept it.

“It’s not something I have put a huge amount of thought into but I’m sure it’s something, if I get asked, I wouldn’t turn down,” he said.

“My first priority has been to get my game right. I have lost the best part of a stone and feel fit.

“I have been working hard on my game, working on the things I feel I struggled with last season, and I have really been enjoying it.”