Jonny Wilkinson dropped out of the running thanks to his ongoing injury problems while Jason Robinson – his successor as England skipper – has struggled for form during the world champions’ recent slump.

Munster second row Paul O’Connell was touted as an alternative but he has only captained Ireland on two occasions and although a good bet to make the Test line-up, he is not guaranteed a place.

Of the other Six Nations captains, Scotland’s Gordon Bulloch may not even be second choice hooker on tour while Wales’ skippers Gareth Thomas and Michael Owen are injured and far too inexperienced respectively.

All the indications are that the job is O’Driscoll’s – an appointment which would get the full backing of former Lions Test hooker Wood who lists a host of reasons why he is the only player to lead the Lions.

“Brian has toured before, he has guaranteed a slot and he has played really well in the Six Nations,” said Wood, who was replaced by O’Driscoll as permanent Ireland captain when he retired after the 2003 World Cup.

“He’s comfortable being an international captain and he has the respect of all the players. Sounds like a captain to me really. If you are taking somebody else you are taking an element of risk that maybe needn’t be there.”

O’Driscoll will arguably be the only Test certainty out of the entire squad and Woods admits he has difficulty producing a settled side to take-on the All Blacks in the three-match series.

“Selection is incredibly difficult. I have written my team down but it changes from week to week. I have written down five different teams for five different styles of play,” he said.

“One team for experience over youth, one team for loose rugby, one team to dominate up front and so on. In the end it is all an exercise in futility.”

Wood – a prominent figure on the last two Lions tours to Australia and South Africa – warns the toughest of all touring destinations awaits whoever makes Woodward’s squad.

“Players selected for the Lions will give every bit they have for the chance of being victorious in New Zealand, which has proved to be the hardest place to go. The Lions have only won once there,” he said.

“The Tests will be hard, aggressive and brutal. The midweek matches will be attritional, much more so than in Australia. It’s going to be very, very intense and difficult and well nigh impossible for the players to get away from rugby.”