British and Irish Lions 2017: Warren Gatland facing up to toughest decision of tour with All Blacks just days away

Gatland believes the first midweek victory of the tour proves there is no split in the squad but would not reveal his thought process behind his Test selection to face the All Blacks

Warren Gatland would not give any hints away over his Test selection (Getty)

With the All Blacks just around the corner Warren Gatland knows he now faces the biggest decision yet of this British and Irish Lions tour.

Gatland watched his much-changed Lions crush a disappointing Chiefs side 34-6 in Hamilton to record the midweek group’s first win in New Zealand with a number of fringe players putting their hands up for consideration against the three-time world champions in Auckland in just three days’ time.

Jack Nowell bagged a try double with Elliot Daly also impressing to give Gatland significant food for thought with George North’s place on the left wing now perhaps the biggest discussion point in today’s final selection meeting.

Daly was removed after 60 minutes in what appeared to be a nod towards the Wasps back playing some kind of role at Eden Park on Saturday, though Gatland would only say that prospect is a possibility despite the England international being the only tactical replacement of the night at the FMG Stadium.

"I think the performances have been good. Not everyone agrees with that opinion, " he said. "We are pretty happy with where we are at the moment. The selection meeting will be tough and that’s the way we want it. Guys put up their hands tonight and there will be some healthy debate.

"The selection meeting will be with all the coaches. The way it always works, I can tell you in the past it's always a consensus of that group. It's never one person's call, it's coaches discussing the options then collectively agreeing on selections. That's exactly what will happen tomorrow.

"We'll have some lively debate, and then we will all agree on it. It will be us all contributing."

Nowell, Daly and Liam Williams gelled to fine effect in the tourists’ first real back-three performance of attacking flair against the Chiefs.

Gatland believes Nowell's upswing in performance echoed that of a number of the men who triumphed on Tuesday evening.

"Someone like Jack Nowell, it just hadn't happened for him in the first couple of games," he added.

"But he is a player who is prolific in terms of getting his hands on the ball, and he showed that when he scored his tries. I was pleased to see him play well and I thought Elliot (Daly) looked sharp and Liam (Williams) too.

"It was a combination that looked pretty dangerous and pretty potent."

Elliot Daly could find himself in the Test squad after coming off early (Getty)

Skipper Sam Warburton’s selection remains a bone of contention with Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien and Taulupe Faletau having forged a formidable and so far first-choice back-row as the Lions' strongest XV have ground both the Crusaders and the Maori All Blacks into submission.

Asked if Warburton's situation underlines a positive of his squad’s strength in depth, Gatland replied: "Absolutely, it's what you want. We spoke about the quality of the squad before we left and some players haven't disappointed us."