Riki Flutey is poised to return to Lions action after being selected as a substitute for the match against the Natal Sharks on Wednesday.

The England centre injured his knee in the opening game of the tour – the 35-27 victory over the Royal XV – and such was the severity of the damage done that the Lions' head doctor, James Robson, thought the player might have to be sent home.

But having work intensively to get fit, Flutey is now back in contention and will take his place on the bench in Durban this week. Paul O'Connell also returns as captain while Gordon D'Arcy is left out altogether.

"We are now halfway through the provincial matches prior to the first Test and the important factor is that the Lions are unbeaten. The next challenge is the Sharks in Durban," said Lions team manager Gerald Davies. "The selected team will want to ensure that the one hundred per cent playing record is maintained with a victory at ABSA Stadium, which is also the venue of the First Test. "

Head coach Ian McGeechan added: "I am delighted that as we head into the fourth match we only have one player who is unavailable for selection. The players and the medical staff have managed the injuries that have been sustained in a very professional manner. This is crucial as we enter matches against two of South Africa's strongest provinces in the Sharks and Western Province in the space of four days."

"This is reflected by the fact that four starting players from the Cheetahs match will back up against the Sharks, while five players are starting their third match of the tour. Those players are captain Paul O'Connell, Lee Byrne, Shane Williams, Jamie Roberts and David Wallace. Paul will start with his third different second row partner in Alun Wyn Jones, while we also have new starting partnerships in the back three, the halfbacks and in the front row."

"The next two matches are obviously critical in the development of the Test side. While we have these new starting partnerships for the Sharks match we also have a centre pairing in Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll, and a back row of Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace and Tom Croft that have played together on tour in the Golden Lions match," added McGeechan.

British & Irish Lions Team versus Sharks on 10th June

15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)

14. Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)

13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)

12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

11. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster/Ireland)

10. Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)

9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)

8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)

7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)

6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)

5. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) captain

4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)

3. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)

2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)

1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

Replacements:

16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)

17. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)

18. Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England)

19. Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England)

20. Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland)

21. Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England)

22. Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues/Wales)