Phil Vickery has another chance to stake a claim for a place in the British and Irish Lions side to face South Africa in the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday.

The former Gloucester prop, who still lives in the county, has been named among the replacements to face the Emerging Springboks today and could make an impact if he comes on.

However, the demotion could also be read as evidence that none of the players starting against the Emerging Springboks will be involved in Saturday’s Test team.

That was certainly the case last Tuesday in the final warm-up match against the Southern Kings before the first Test.

Only Harlequins and England wing Ugo Monye started the 20-8 victory and then retained his place for the first clash against the world champions.

Vickery was given a torrid time in the scrum by South Africa loosehead Tendal Mtawarira, resulting in the Wasps man conceding penalties which were then converted into vital points.

The 33-year-old was replaced after just five minutes of the second half by Welsh prop Adam Jones, who appeared to steady up the scrum.

Jones is now the favourite to grab the number three shirt on Saturday with his shorter frame a more difficult proposition to scrum against compared with Vickery’s 6ft 3in stature.

Four players who started the opening game of the three-Test series on Saturday, which ended in a 26-21 defeat, will have second chances to impress from the bench.

Joining Vickery on the bench are front row colleague and fellow Englishmen, hooker Lee Mears, Irish openside David Wallace and England winger Monye.