Hines had made a splendid start to life as a Lion, impressing in both a run-on role in the midweek game against the Golden Lions as well as a replacement against the Cheetahs on Saturday.

His form means he is probably vying with Alun-Wyn Jones for a place alongside captain Paul O'Connell in the second row for the first Test against South Africa on June 20.

O'Connell has surprisingly been named alongside the Welshman for Wednesday's match in Durban despite having played last weekend, so Hines is set to start in the weekend match against Western Province, probably with Simon Shaw of England.

Australian-born Hines said: “The players have no idea how the management is seeing things. That is the right way to go because everyone thinks they are in contention for a Test spot.

“Whereas on previous tours Wednesday's match may not have been a game you wanted to be involved in, because the Saturday side would have been the likely Test line-up, that is not the case on this trip.”