On Wednesday, the Lions team management will end the suspense for players, media and rugby fans alike as they announce the 37 man touring party for Australia in the summer. It is hardly surprising that the newspapers were crammed with various pundits offering their potential selections. It was interesting to note that while several Irish commentators suggested that St Mary's College wing Denis Hickie might miss out, most of the cross channel media included him in their respective squads.

While he suffered an untimely less than distinguished outing against Munster for the Rest of Ireland recently - this was heralded as damning his candidacy - it should be pointed out that when the foot-and-mouth crisis originally hit Britain and Ireland, Lions manager Donal Lenihan was adamant that the selection process for the Lions was over a nine month period.

Now, aside form the Munster match and his sojourn on the sidelines with a hand injury, Hickie has been in superb form for his province, Leinster and Ireland. So if the criterion was applied according to Lenihan's edict then there is no reason why Hickie's candidature for Australia should suddenly have slipped from a cast iron certainty with the bookmakers to potentially missing out. He is Ireland's best wing and a better prospect than England's Ben Cohen.

Maintaining the Irish theme, this column learned that Leicester full back cum wing, Geordan Murphy could be a surprise inclusion in the touring party. There are also whispers/informed insight that Eric Miller will be included. All will be revealed on Wednesday.