He and Lions head coach Ian McGeechan took several fact-finding trips to South Africa during the past 12 months and, now the squad has been selected, it is full steam ahead towards the departure day of May 24.

“The biggest challenge facing the management team is to get everything to work in such a short space of time,” said Davies.

“We only have seven weeks together on tour, so it is vital that the preparatory work done ahead of meeting as a squad is spot-on.

“We want to make it a special time for the players, management and fans.

“I want to try to create an atmosphere in which the Lions players are true competitors and are enjoying themselves as well.

“We won’t be looking back at the way things were run on previous tours. People who went before us did things their way and did what they felt needed to be done.

“It is about what you believe the Lions stand for, what your objectives are and doing what needs to be done under the conditions.

“Because we are together for such a short period of time, you don’t get any second chances.

“Having been fortunate enough to play for the Lions, I know how special it is to be chosen - and then how magical it is to tour with players from the other nations.

“The values that were there when I toured in 1968 and 1971 had been forged over many decades and many tours. Both Geech and I are determined to make those same values important to the players of 2009.”