The foot and mouth crisis has already seen three internationals - all involving Ireland - called off.

And with English Premiership play-offs, plus this season's Heineken Cup semi-finals and final, also featuring on a packed end-of-season agenda, player fatigue could be a major problem.

The Lions are due to leave London on June 1, but there is a possibility that England's delayed Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin might take place just six days earlier.

Leicester and Munster, two teams boasting several likely Lions, may well contest the Heineken Cup barely a week before that, so Henry can only keep his fingers crossed.

Had the season gone according to plan, then there would have been a clear three-week break between Europe's showpiece final and the Lions facing Western Australia in Perth on June 8.

"If games are going to be played in late May, then it won't be of benefit to the Lions," he said.

"But there is nothing we can do about it. The Lions players will need some sort of break, yet if it's not possible, we will just have to get on with it.

"The foot and mouth situation doesn't seem to be getting any better, and we have to cut our cloth accordingly.

"In a perfect world, we would meet up for a week's camp on May 26, but the world is not perfect any more," he added.

"In terms of selection, the Six Nations would have clarified a lot of thinking, although I believe that we can still select pretty confidently without these matches.

"We would like the normal process to continue, but I cannot do anything about the foot and mouth we've got here at present."

Henry plans to announce the Lions squad on April 12, and while that announcement might be put back a fortnight, further delays are highly unlikely, especially as players need to agree and sign tour contracts.