Wales coach Gatland will take charge of the forwards on the 10-match tour, with Shaun Edwards, Rob Howley, Craig White and Rhys Long also in the backroom alongside Lions head coach Ian McGeechan.

"We'll be conscious not to be accused of bias or favouritism," said Gatland.

"A Welsh player may not just have to be the same as another player in his position - he may have to be better."

"If you picked the Lions at the end of last season there would have been a huge Welsh contingent.

"The challenge for all of us is to improve again, to get the performances and the results.

"Hopefully by doing that Wales will get a number of automatic selections in on form."