Warren Gatland’s hoping to avoid injured pride of Lions

Warren Gatland has one more anxious weekend to endure before he can head to New Zealand on Monday with his Lions squad and try to emulate the 1971 series-winning team.

In those amateur days, key players were not involved in high-octane finals or play-offs in France. Gatland, though, has a professional pride of Lions who still have important business to attend to for their clubs.

Tonight, Courtney Lawes and George North will start for Northampton in the European Champions Cup play-off against Stade Francais, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny also has one more match for Toulon at La Rochelle this evening.

Gatland already has fitness doubts over hooker Ken Owens, and his Scarlets team-mates Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams will be involved in tomorrow’s Pro12 final with Munster, who also have a group of Lions squad members - CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray - in their ranks.

Meanwhile, at Twickenham, the Premiership final will involve Jack Nowell of Exeter and Wasps’ Elliot Daly and James Haskell.

Nonetheless, Gatland is taking a pragmatic view, pointing out that New Zealand - who have injury concerns over captain Kieran Read - will also have leading players involved in Super Rugby matches.

Gatland led the Lions to a series win in Australia in 2013 despite injuries, and said: “We are going to lose some players along the way, and New Zealand are in the same boat as well.

“They have got a few big games to play over the next few weekends before the Test series starts and, fingers crossed, we don’t pick up any injuries in the finals (Aviva Premiership and Guinness PRO12) this weekend.”

With Saracens and Leinster losing in the semi-finals of their league competitions, Gatland was able to assemble 30 of his 41 players in Ireland this week for much-needed preparation work, and they will provide the match 23 for the opening Lions game a week tomorrow.