Wales number eight Andy Powell is battling to overcome a hand problem which is understood to have been caused by an insect bite.

And Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris, who is due to be among the replacements this weekend, has a calf muscle injury.

A final decision on the fitness of both players will be made tomorrow.

But the latest problems come after a disruptive tour build-up that saw Tomas O’Leary, Tom Shanklin and Jerry Flannery all fall by the wayside through serious injuries.

On top of that, Munster flanker Alan Quinlan was sidelined by a 12-week suspension, while Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny will join the tour late after remaining in Cardiff for intensive treatment on a thigh injury.

“We’ve got a couple of niggles,” said Lions assistant coach and scrummaging specialist Graham Rowntree, at the tourists’ remote hillside retreat 10 miles outside Rustenburg.

“Andy Powell picked up a bit of a hand injury this week, and didn’t train fully this morning. We will assess that tomorrow morning.

“And Stephen Ferris has got a bit of a calf injury, which we will assess tomorrow as well.

“We’ve got a great medical team, and we are certainly not ruling people out the day before a game.

“We’ve got various contingency plans. With all the back-row options we have, we can make decisions on the day of the game.”