Six Nations champions England look set to provide more than a third of the 2017 British and Irish Lions squad — but their headline omissions could still dominate today’s announcement in London.

While players like Ben Te’o, Elliot Daly, Joe Marler and Maro Itoje should become first-time Lions in New Zealand this summer, some high-profile casualties are also possible.

Lions boss Warren Gatland and his coaching staff put the finishing touches to their selection during a meeting yesterday afternoon.

And they assembled against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding Lions hopefuls such as centre Jonathan Joseph, flyhalf George Ford, hooker Dylan Hartley and lock Joe Launchbury.

The quartet, all key influences on England’s impressive revival under head coach Eddie Jones, boast strong Lions credentials.

But while England captain and hooker Hartley seems likely to make it, his teammates might fall by the wayside.

New Zealand-born Te’o, who has made one England start in eight appearances, shone in front of watching Lions assistant coach Rob Howley when Worcester beat Premiership opponents Bath three days ago.

And the 30-year-old might have done enough to surprisingly edge out razor-sharp Bath ace Joseph, although Wasps forward Launchbury being overlooked would be a bigger shock, given his outstanding England displays this season.

Gatland’s second-row options are considerable, making selection in that department particularly demanding, yet Launchbury was still considered a shoo-in by many pundits.

Ford, meanwhile, looks to have lost out behind Wales number 10 Dan Biggar, with the Ospreys fly-half featuring among a likely doublefigure Welsh contingent in Gatland’s expected 37 or 38-man party.

England’s representation is set to be their largest since Clive Woodward selected 20 for the Lions’ 2005 New Zealand expedition but Scotland, despite winning three recent Six Nations games, could be left with full-back Stuart Hogg as their solitary squad member.

Wings Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland, lock Jonny Gray and flanker Hamish Watson all have their admirers, while prop WP Nel would surely have made it but for injury, yet 2013 Lions tourist Hogg looks to be Scotland’s only clear-cut choice, with Seymour pushing hard behind him.

European champions Saracens and Irish heavyweights Leinster could provide almost a third of the squad between them, with eight Premiership clubs likely to be represented on Gatland’s roster as Saracens are joined by Bath, Northampton, Exeter, Wasps, Worcester, Leicester and Harlequins.