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Tom Shanklin is desperate for a chance to complete some "unfinished business" with the British and Irish Lions - and he could be doing it in familiar company.

The Wales centre failed to last the distance in 2005 after being forced home early from the Lions' disappointing New Zealand tour to undergo knee surgery.

Shanklin wants to help rebuild the Lions image in South Africa this summer and he was one of Cardiff's five contenders to shine as the Blues demolished Gloucester 50-12 in the EDF Energy Cup final.

Cardiff boss Dai Young believes Shanklin, Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins are "dead certs" for a place in Ian McGeechan's squad to take on the world champions.

But winger Leigh Halfpenny also underlined his own credentials by scorching over for two brilliantly crafted first-half tries while Jamie Roberts has enjoyed an impressive season for both club and country.

McGeechan and his sidekick Shaun Edwards were both in the crowd at Twickenham and will meet with the remainder of the management team tomorrow to finalise a 35 or 36-man touring party.

The squad announcement will be made at lunchtime on Tuesday. No player other than the captain will be informed of their selection in advance.

"There is unfinished business for a lot of people," said Shanklin.

"Nobody really showed what the Lions are about in New Zealand and we need to make a big statement.

"Saying that I need to get on that plane first. We couldn't have done more than we did against Gloucester but I will still be nervous on Monday night."

The fact the Blues could potentially provide five Lions tourists is a source of much pride for Young, who has had to deal with some tough times at the Arms Park as he built this current squad.

Over the last two weekend's Cardiff have reached their first ever Heineken Cup semi-final with victory over French giants Toulouse and won their first piece of silverware since the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003.

"We didn't think we'd score 50 points against a team like Gloucester. I'm very proud of the effort and the skills," said Young.

"As a region we're proud to supply players to Wales and to have some guys on the Lions tour is further reward."

The record number of Lions tourists provided by any one club is eight, which is held by Newport from 1910 and Leicester from 2005, although Sir Clive Woodward took a swollen party of 45 to New Zealand four years ago.

On Tuesday, Lions manager Gerald Davies will announce a more streamlined squad in which Ireland and Wales are expected to dominate.

Paul O'Connell is favourite to captain the squad and he could be joined by as many as 11 others from Ireland's Grand Slam winning squad.

Shanklin believes the European success enjoyed by the Blues and fellow Heineken Cup semi-finalists Munster and Leinster will stand the squad in good stead.

"It is good for the Lions because there are a lot of in-form teams and in-form players," he said.

While Young's years of hard work are coming to the boil in Cardiff, Gloucester boss Dean Ryan is under increasing pressure after a fourth consecutive Twickenham final defeat.

Ryan had excused past failures as being part of a learning curve - but he claimed even Gloucester's best team would not have been good enough to handle Cardiff.

Three years ago Gloucester was packed with the best crop of young English players in the country but the likes of Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen and Alex Brown have all failed to establish themselves on the international scene.

Ryan said: "It's no accident that some of this squad haven't gone on to become internationals and it's no accident we don't have five or six Lions contenders (like Cardiff).

"This group isn't good enough to compete at this level. We have to accept that and it will be part of our review over the summer."If there's something I've done wrong in the past it's keeping faith with individuals hoping they'd improve when there were opportunities to change.

"If there's a failing then it's probably because I kept faith with them for a year too long."

Ryan insisted he was prepared to oversee a major summer recruitment drive and build a new team if Gloucester owner Tom Walkinshaw will afford him the opportunity.

"I need to come up with plans to take us forward. I also need to see if Tom wants me to do that," said Ryan.

Sporting Life / Eurosport