Andy Farrell will select his British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia next Thursday. The 49-year-old is expected to go with a 37-man squad and it doesn't take a genius to work out Wales will almost certainly have the least players of all four home nations due to their 17-Test losing streak. This will be a far cry from recent tours where there have been swathes of Welsh players on the plane, but Wales could potentially have their lowest representation since the 1993 tour of New Zealand where just five players went. What also goes against Wales is the fact there are no Welsh sides in the semi-finals of either European competitions this weekend, meaning their final auditions have already gone. Here is the squad rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas thinks Farrell could select next week. James Lowe (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Huge Keenan (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) As far as full-backs go, Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan are nailed on, no questions asked. Both players are among the best in their positions in the world, with Kinghorn having taken his game to another level since joining European champions Toulouse. Ireland's James Lowe is in red hot form while Farrell is a big fan of Mack Hansen, so it would be a surprise if neither toured. There are many pushing the case of Darcy Graham who has been outstanding for both Edinburgh and Scotland, but this writer has opted for Duhan van der Merwe. There are better all-round wings than van der Merwe but he is a world class finisher with serious pace and power who could cause Australia all manner of problems if the Lions manage to get him onto the front foot. England's Tommy Freeman has also been in sensational form and the fact he can also play centre is a bonus. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Wales' Blair Murray has been touted as a bolter and while he was a positive in what was another dark Six Nations for Wales, it is hard to see the Scarlets man getting in ahead of those mentioned above. Bundee Aki (Ireland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Tom Jordan (Scotland) Ireland's Bundee Aki is nailed on and while Sione Tuipulotu missed the Six Nations through injury, the Scotland star has enough credit in the bank. Tuipulotu will be central to the Lions' hopes this summer, with his explosive carrying game along with his ability to put others into space and his leadership ability a big plus point. Huw Jones should also be on the plane and the 'Huwpulotu" centre partnership could very well start the Tests. Ireland's Garry Ringrose has been the unsung hero of Leinster and Ireland's success, so he just about gets the nod. Robbie Henshaw is very unlucky to miss out but Scotland's Tom Jordan offers something a bit different. Jordan has taken to Test rugby like a duck takes to water. The Glasgow star is another playmaker who is a genuine triple threat player who is also extremely physical while the fact he can also play outside-half is also a bonus. Finn Russell (Scotland), Sam Prendergast (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England) There are those who have thrown doubt on Finn Russell's potential inclusion due to the fact Farrell has added Johnny Sexton to his coaching team. Sexton recently took a swipe at Russell's style of play but the Scotland playmaker is a tremendous talent and simply has to go on this tour. Russell is a maverick outside-half capable of creating opportunities out of nothing and if the Lions want to bring their best attacking game into the Tests against the Wallabies then Russell is the 10. Ireland's Sam Prendergast is another mercurial talent with a huge ceiling. He may only have won a handful of caps and there will be some questioning his lack of experience but Prendergast has the lot. Ireland's Jack Crowley, along with English trio Finn Smith, Marcus Smith and George Ford, are also strong contenders but I have a hunch Farrell may opt for his son. Owen Farrell has not played Test rugby this season and has missed much of the Top 14 season with Racing due to an injury. But to succeed on Lions tours you need players who have been there and done it. Farrell knows what it takes to succeed with the Lions and would be a leader within the group who demands the highest of standards, while the 33-year-old would be an excellent alternative to Russell. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Tomos Williams (Wales) Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park is one of the first names on Farrell's team sheet. The 33-year-old has been integral to Ireland and Leinster's success over the past few years and Australia will need to find a way to contain him if they are to win their first Test series against the Lions since 2001. England's Alex Mitchell has been in top form and will surely be rewarded with a plane ticket to Australia. Most pundits believe the third scrum-half spot is between Wales' Tomos Williams and Scotland's Ben White. Williams wasn't at his best during the Six Nations but it didn't help playing behind a pack which was on the back foot. The 30-year-old has been in tremendous form for Gloucester and is arguably the best nine in the Gallagher Premiership. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free While White has played well for Scotland he is second choice at Toulon behind Baptiste Serin while Williams also has far more x-factor. Caelan Doris (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Ben Earl (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Josh van der Flier (Ireland) Ireland's Caelan Doris is nailed on to tour and is the frontrunner to start the Tests, while Ben Earl is also expected to tour with his ability to cover the entire back row a bonus. English backrower's Earl and Tom Curry were nothing short of outstanding during the Six Nations, but Wales' Jac Morgan also gets in after impressing in a very poor side. Morgan is as good as any openside around and it wouldn't be out of the question to see the Ospreys star and Curry in the same backrow for the Test matches. Leinster star Josh van der Flier has been a big part of Farrell's Ireland team and it is difficult to see the rugby league legend leaving the 32-year-old at home. While it may be controversial to some, Taulupe Faletau is a world class player who has been there and done it. The 34-year-old is the complete player and while he has been part of a struggling Wales side you can rest assured he would thrive with the Lions in Australia. Toulouse star Jack Willis and Scotland pair Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge are very unlucky to miss out. Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) Maro Itoje (England and Captain), Ollie Chessum (England), Dafydd Jenkins (Wales) Tadhg Beirne is a phenomenal player who will be integral to the Lions' hopes of winning a first Test series since 2013. The Munster lock is likely to form a second-row partnership with England's Maro Itoje in the Tests, with the Saracens star the tour captain. England lock Ollie Chessum should go because he is an outstanding lineout forward and enjoyed an impressive Six Nations campaign. Ireland's Joe McCarthy is another player who has been key to Ireland's success in recent times and is a real bruiser of a lock capable of making significant post-contact metres. While it may be a little controversial, Dafydd Jenkins could sneak in with George Martin out injured. Jenkins has endured a difficult season for both club and country but the Exeter Chiefs man is the type of player who would thrive on a Lions tour surrounded by good players. Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England) Ireland's Dan Sheehan is one of the best hookers in the world and an almost certainty to make the Test squad, while his deputy Ronan Kelleher has been outstanding Ireland. Wales' Dewi Lake is a strong contender to tour but could be edged out by England's Luke Cowan-Dickie. The Sale Sharks hooker is an abrasive character with a real edge and was outstanding in England's demolition of Wales on the final weekend of the Six Nations. Lake would be extremely unlucky but might his injury plagued Six Nations count against him? Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Andrew Porter (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Nicky Smith (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Will Stuart (England). Andrew Porter and Ellis Genge are nailed on to tour but the third loosehead berth is likely to be between Scotland's Pierre Schoeman and Wales' Nicky Smith. Schoeman is a powerful carrier who is good at the breakdown but Smith is the better scrummager. The Leicester Tigers prop has been at his destructive best in the Gallagher Premiership this season but ended up on the losing side when Scotland beat Wales at Murrayfield last month. Many experts would go for Schoeman but Smith's scrummaging could edge it. Over on the tighthead Tadhg Furlong is the favourite to start the Tests with Zander Fagerson close behind, but there is talk the Scotland tighthead might be ruled out through injury. If that was the case then Ireland's Finlay Bealham could squeeze in with England's Will Stuart also a front runner to tour.