We know the big game but, as I sit here with Table Mountain emerging rather pleasingly from the haze of my first day in dear old Cape Town, we don’t know the players the Lions will choose to face one of the most historical provincial teams in the world rugby. So let us concentrate on the team that had been announced by Thursday lunchtime. Western Province named their line-up on Wednesday, even before kick-off in Durban.

A couple of notes; firstly, this is not the Super 14 franchise side that is based in Cape Town, the Stormers, but the side that will represent the region in the Currie Cup.

This is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. It is something of a sap for the city that was not awarded one of the three Tests. Two matches, yes, but not a Test match and the Tests are all the South African public appear interested in.

The city's rugby public has been granted a chance to support the team that tugs more on the heartstrings than the franchise team. Their selection options are slightly less but paradoxically they have a greater chance of causing an upset because the passion that has been markedly absent on this tour to date should erupt beneath the mountain in Newlands come Saturday afternoon.

The region has not enjoyed a great spell of success in recent years but the Lions should lift a team that has not lost anywhere near as many players to the Springboks camp as the Sharks did mid-week. The first name to stand out is Luke Watson, the devout Christian whose outspoken views on the Springbok jersey make him a hero to some and a villain to others.

He is an outstanding back-row forward. The Lions have had problems with the immense Heinrich Brussow and Jean Deysal at the breakdown, where – despite claiming to have improved – the side need to make the most improvement before the first Test. Alongside Watson, who is a typically tenacious low-slung operator, is Duane Vermeulen, one of the fastest improving back-row forwards in South Africa.

Martyn Williams is in a dogfight with David Wallace for a starting place for the first Test and should relish the excellent standard of competition that will allow him to make a late case for selection. It may be that Joe Worsley, not very impressive to date, is another in contention because Tom Croft did not impose his presence on Wednesday. Yet strange to say, the favourite to play in the blind-side role now is probably Ryan Jones, who should start on Tuesday night against Southern Kings. It could be quite a return to the limelight for the Welsh captain, who arrived in South Africa not that long before I sat down to tea and typing.

The Province front five is solid but unspectacular. I hazard a guess that Phil Vickery will start the game and display the form to make the Test team (Euan Murray may be undone by the lottery of the interpretation at the scrum. If he cannot impose himself at the set-piece, both the Englishman and the underestimated Adam Jones stand out as more mobile, complete players.)

Nathan Hines will presumably start, too, as the Lions try to unravel the mystery of their second-row selection, which is not helped by their captain looking a little like a soft-ground specialist operating on firm surfaces. "Horses for courses" is not your usual rugby phrase; if it was, Paul O’Connell might be under some pressure because the competition for places at lock is tight.

Behind the scrum the Province have an imbalanced look to their midfield with both Peter Grant and Morgan Newman creative players but not hard runners; Tonderai Chavange, Joe Pietersen and Gcobani Bobo are all dangerous wide men but with the Lions defence looking more formidable by the match the likelihood of them being torn to pieces in midfield is small.

There is good chance that Stephen Jones will play and play his way into the Test team. He needs a formidable challenge to prove he was doing more than going through the motions, albeit expertly, against the Golden Lions on the second game of the tour. Ronan O’Gara rather overkicked in the opposition 22 for my liking but his goal-kicking and ability to tactically grip a game means he remains a real threat to the composed Welshman for the fly half spot.

Shane Williams has had his chances and has, sadly for those of us who love to watch him, not taken them. Tommy Bowe has a Test place to lose on the right wing. On the other flank Ugo Monye could do with a little more dexterity with ball in hand but his defence is good and he is an extremely determined performer. Luke Fitzgerald has a touch more class and seemed close to his best in Durban but the Harlequin is more robust and perhaps a safer defensive option. The left wing position is one of the closest calls left for the Lions.

Rob Kearney could do with the game of his life but even then he might not dislodge Lee Byrne from full back. However, if his handling and kicking game is strong, he could yet be considered as a footballing wing whose left boot is a different sort of asset to the two aforementioned operators.

Many of the Test places may be inked in but the trick of this management is that the players believe this not to be the case and that motivates them to play the games of their life. Slowly and reasonably surely the Lions are coming together. There is a quiet confidence in the camp and an inner determination among all the players to be a part of something special.

The management is doing its job, now over to the 22 who will be named at 9.45am on Friday for the fifth and toughest match to date against a struggling team but one made dangerous by its proud history. Oh, and this will have be a decent crowd and a grand atmosphere.