World player of the year Shane Williams looks to have been denied a final chance to press for British and Irish Lions’ first Test duty.

The Wales wing is likely to be ruled out of today’s sixth South Africa tour match against Southern Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The Lions have described Williams as suffering from “a minor tummy bug”, but it was still bad enough to prevent him flying to Port Elizabeth last night.

Tommy Bowe, current Lions player of the tour, made the charter flight from Cape Town instead, and could either start instead of him or feature on the bench.

Williams always faced an uphill Test battle, given the rampant form of Bowe and England’s Ugo Monye – they have scored seven tries between them on tour – and a last opportunity to impress Lions head coach Ian McGeechan seems to have passed him by.

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan will lead the Lions today, taking charge of a side containing several Test hopefuls.

And McGeechan has reiterated his stance that all fit players remain in the frame.

“I told the players that on the first day, and I won’t change. We won’t pick the Test team until Wednesday morning,” he said.

McGeechan paid tribute to O’Callaghan, who has reached a career pinnacle at the age of 30 following 55 Ireland caps.

“I got to know Donncha pretty well in 2005 (Lions tour of New Zealand), and I know his reaction when he was first selected. He’s a fantastic tourist,” added McGeechan.

“I valued what he did in 2005 when I was working pretty closely with him, and he has taken it a step forward with this group. You don’t have to have led a lot to know people will follow you.

“I value what he has brought. I didn’t know him before 2005, and our relationship has grown on this tour. He’s very deserving of the captaincy, in my book.”

The Southern Kings play their first ever fixture, with coach Alan Solomons drafting in a handful of players with Guinness Premiership appearance, including former Harlequins centre De Wet Barry and former Bath backs Wylie Human and Frikkie Welsh.

Whether the game ends up having much bearing on McGeechan’s Test selection remains to be seen, but there is a fierce determination to get another job done and preserve their 100% tour record.

“I’ve felt we have had to use all six games, and hopefully out of that comes the way we want to play,” McGeechan continued.

“If I tried to do it any other way, I wouldn’t have been honest or fair.

“The way the players have taken it on board, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. We know we have got keep that focus.

“I’ve tried not to hide anything – I am not going to say one thing and do another.”

South Africa, meanwhile, have drafted Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brssow into their squad preparing in Durban for Saturday’s Test.

Brssow, who had an outstanding game against the Lions in Bloemfontein nine days ago, has been summoned amid continuing doubts surrounding Schalk Burger’s fitness.

Burger is nursing a calf muscle injury and is racing against time to be fit for the opening Lions encounter.