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Veteran British and Irish Lions prop Phil Vickery will face a "huge psychological challenge" if he is selected to face up to Tendai Mtawarira in the  third and final Test against South Africa on Saturday.

However, the 33-year-old Vickery's scrum coach, former international Graham Rowntree, is confident he can overcome any emotional scars that may have been left from the mauling he received at the hands of the beastly Bok in the first Test.

Vickery was penalised several times in the encounter in Durban, a number of which were turned into points, on a day in which the South African produced a Man-of-the-match performance.

The Boks went on to win the Test 26-21, even though the Lions outscored them by three tries to two - thanks largely to a string of penalties.

Vickery did not feature in the second Test in Pretoria last week, when the Welsh duo of Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones powered up to give the Bok front row a run for their money.

But injury - Jenkins has a fractured cheekbone and Jones a dislocated shoulder - has now ruled the Welshmen out.

It means two Englishmen, Vickery and Andrew Sheridan, could start in Johannesburg on Saturday - setting up a potential rematch between Vickery and Mtawarira.

While the Lions team will only be confirmed on Thursday, early indications are that Vickery will play.

"It will be a huge physiological challenge if Vicks starts again, but one he is capable of overcoming," Rowntree said,, when asked how tough it would be for the 74-Test capped prop.

"He is a strong character - one of the strongest characters I have ever come across in the game, as a fellow player and indeed someone who I've coached. I have no doubt, and I'll back the bloke on this, that if he is selected he will get back out there and give a good performance."

Rowntree admitted it will be "tough" for Vickery to face up to Mtawarira again.

"It is going to be tough, let's not beat around the bush," he said, adding: "We've talked a lot about the first Test over last 10 days.

"That was an uncomfortable day in the office for Phil by his own admittance and by mine as well, but there is no one else out there with his strength of character as an individual and I'm backing that if indeed we do choose to start with him at the weekend."

By Jan de Koning, in Johannesburg