Lions tour of New Zealand: The greatest guessing game in British and Irish rugby, namely the composition of the Lions squad to tour New Zealand next summer, is already up and running, and no one is engaged in this more than Clive Woodward.

Except for him it's not a sideshow.

The World Cup-winning coach admits he's already been drafting lists of the names in contention for up to 44 places on the plane to New Zealand next May. He is not of a mind to announce a provisional, enlarged squad; but suffice to say, as he put it yesterday, if a player is not in consideration "he must be playing under-six rugby".

Aside from the vagaries of form, with over four months to the squad announcement on April 11th or 12th, avoiding injuries and battle fatigue from a congested, nine-month domestic calendar is well nigh impossible, and Woodward, who gave a press briefing in Portmarnock early yesterday morning, implied that Ireland's structures may be an advantage to the leading players here.

"It is difficult. I have to say that the way Ireland operate over here is the role model in terms of looking after players and making sure they are right for Test match rugby. Certainly in England, there'll be a lot more rugby played, and the national coach is a little bit removed from the welfare of the players."

Pointedly, Woodward also mentioned some of those currently sidelined by injury: Jonny Wilkinson, Simon Taylor, Gordon D'Arcy and Richard Hill. Indeed, a spell on the sidelines may ultimately be no harm to a player's Lions hopes.

"We've got a budget for a maximum of 44 players - and I'm not convinced we're going to take 44 yet, maybe a little bit lighter than that," said Woodward, who will name his captain in conjunction with the squad announcement.

Needless to say, the front-runners for that honour are numerous. "Certainly, in your country you've got some outstanding candidates; the guy in possession (Brian O'Driscoll), (Paul) O'Connell in the second row. I think you've got some great leaders," said Woodward, who also mentioned Jason Robinson, Gordon Bulloch, Simon Taylor and Gareth Thomas.

The names of Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson have also been touted, although form in what he said will be "a very special Six Nations" will be the prime yardstick. "I just want to fundamentally pick players who are available for international rugby. You don't have to be playing for your country, because there may be back-up players who don't make the starting XV who still go on the Lions tour. I suppose the best example was '97 when Will Greenwood went, who was uncapped.

"But I've never said never to anybody. If there's a compelling reason to bring somebody who's retired from international rugby - I think that's the key difference, but that player is going to have really, really want to go on the Lions tour - then we'll consider him. But I want the players who are playing in the Six Nations for their countries to know they are playing for a Lions' place, and no one is going to come in from outside that criteria unless I feel there is a compelling reason to do that."

Woodward recently spent a week apiece in camp with Italy, Wales and France for their matches against New Zealand, and was struck by the speed with which everyone is now moving ahead in their preparations, especially the All Blacks under Graham Henry. Woodward vowed to make the Lions the best-prepared squad ever.

The emergence of Daniel Carter and the continuing potency of their outside backs were the main talking points from the All Blacks' destruction of the European Grand Slam champions, but for Woodward it dispelled the notion that somehow their tight five would be their Achilles' heel.

"I think that is absolute nonsense. Their coaching team has really concentrated on that, and the way they played against France particularly was just outstanding. (Norm) Maxwell coming back into the team, along with (Chris) Jack, (Tony) Woodcock playing; they were very, very impressive. It's a big mistake to think that the Lions can go to New Zealand and win the game in the front five. I just don't think that's going to be possible. I think it's going to take a complete, 15-man team effort to beat them."

Woodward wouldn't have planned to resign as English head coach, but he admits he's enjoyed his roving commission without the pressures he would have had were he still directly in the firing line, and that it's been of benefit to his Lions' role (and perhaps by extension to non-English players).

"In terms of the Lions it is a huge advantage. Judging by the work I'm doing now on the Lions' tour, it would almost be impossible to do both jobs properly. I can see how you would potentially fall between two stools."

Alongside him yesterday was Eddie O'Sullivan. The Irish coach, who must be favourite to be conferred as the Philips Manager of the Year later this week, confirmed that Woodward would spend a week with the Irish squad for the Ireland-France game.

Alastair Campbell, the former press secretary to Tony Blair, was introduced as a recently appointed media and communications consultant to the Lions.

John Feehan, chief executive of the Lions, would not divulge the cost of their ever-expanding budget, but that it was "well in excess" of one suggested figure of £2 million, which will be offset by sponsorship, licensing and deals with official travel agents.

Nor would Feehan reveal how many replica Lions shirts were sold four years ago, but said pre-sold orders alone of the 2005 model are double that figure.

He did venture that 15,000 to 20,000 Lions fans will travel to New Zealand for the tour, though because of the smaller infrastructure, hotel accommodation and stadium capacities (the Lions' official allocation will be 8,000 for each Test) this will create huge logistical headaches.

"It really will feel like the hordes have descended."

Woodward admitted the challenge will be bigger than winning the World Cup with England. "I've got to manage it differently, and coach it differently. Rugby is changing hugely, and it's changing in New Zealand as well, and we've got to make sure we're ahead of them off the pitch and on the pitch."

Describing it as "the ultimate and toughest place to go", he suggested the match schedule would be much harder than it was in Australia.

"I'm under no illusions. It will be a far more intensive tour than Australia was in 2001. But it's all geared toward winning three Test matches at the end of the trip."