Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick front-line choices for British and Irish Lions backroom staff

Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick are among the favourites to be named as the assistant coaches of British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand in June 2017.

Wales boss Warren Gatland is set to announce his backroom staff on Wednesday and will be looking to summon as much experience around for the gruelling tour where the Lions play three Tests against the All Blacks while they will also take on the Super Rugby sides apart from their clashes against Provincial Union XV and Maori All Blacks.

Farrell, 41, is currently the defence coach of Ireland and has also worked on a similar role with England between 2011 and 2015 under Stuart Lancaster. He was also highly praised for Ireland's recent historic victory against the All Blacks. He was also part of the defence coach of Lions in the 2013 tour of Australia that won the series 2-1.

Former England lock Borthwick is a part of Eddie Jones' coaching panel and has worked with Japan team apart from a short stint with Bristol.

Interim Wales coach Rob Howley also has rich experience of working with the Lions squad in 2009 and 2013 and is also among the favourites for the New Zealand tour.

Former England and Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan and highly successful Saracens rugby director Mark McCall are the other choices in contention.

"It is another important step on the road to New Zealand," tour manager John Spencer told the Lions' official website ahead of Wednesday's unveiling in Dublin.

"The success of any British and Irish Lions tour depends on having a quality coaching group, and we are very confident that the people we will name on Wednesday can help deliver a Test series win.

"A 10-match tour of New Zealand requires toughness, as well as technical knowledge, and we firmly believe that the characters we have identified as the men to bring on board are exactly what is needed for the upcoming tour."

The technical operations staff will be announced next month while the squad for the series will be named in April 2017.