Danny Care, the Harlequins scrum half, faces another agonising wait to discover if he has convinced the Lions selectors to finally add his name to the tour party for South Africa this summer.

The broken ankle suffered by Munster's Tomas O'Leary on Friday night could be the first of many injury setbacks to hit the Lions management as the players take part in fierce end-of-season domestic battles.

With O'Leary ruled out for four months, head coach Ian McGeechan has to choose another scrum half to join Harry Ellis (England) and Mike Phillips (Wales) on the tour and two Scotland players are desperate to boost their country's Lions contingent up to three.

National team captain Mike Blair and arch rival Chris Cusiter are in the frame along with Care, who has been outstanding for Quins this season, as well as Dwayne Peel, of Sale Sharks.

Peel's season is over as Sale are out of the play-offs but Care could still have two more Premiership outings in which to boost his cause, with Quins facing a play-off semi-final against London Irish.

Cusiter is involved with Perpignan in the French championship, while Blair has the end of the Magners League season to negotiate.

Blair said: "It means there will be another scrum-half going. I am confident in my abilities as a player and it is up to the selectors. "If they want you then great news, but otherwise you just keep sticking in there and see what happens. Over the last three to four weeks I have been pretty happy with my form and we will just wait and see."

McGeechan is refusing to be rushed into a decision and does not expect to name the new man for two weeks, unless his hand is forced.

By then, he could have more call ups to make and there is the looming possibility that up to 13 Lions will be taking part in the Heineken Cup final on the eve of the squad's departure if Munster and Cardiff meet in the Murrayfield showpiece.