Mark Regan believes Lee Mears is now a certain starter for Saturday's opening British & Irish Lions Test against South Africa – and has backed his former protege to shine.

Bath hooker Mears was a notable absentee when Lions coach Ian McGeechan announced his side for tonight's clash with Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

His non-selection for the final warm-up match suggests he will start in Durban this weekend – and Regan says the 30-year-old deserves his opportunity.

"I reckon Lee Mears has done enough to start the first Test," said former Bristol and Bath hooker Regan, who won a Lions cap on the successful 1997 tour to South Africa.

"I spoke to him last week and he asked me how I thought the tour was going for him – I told him it's going very well. I also told him that I taught him everything he knows!"

Mears' Bath career only really took off when he was in his mid-20s, having previously had to wait for his opportunities behind Regan and then Jonathan Humphreys.

But his patience has paid off and he has regularly made the most of the opportunities that have come his way since breaking into the first team at the Recreation Ground.

"Mearsy has maximised his opportunity on this tour," said Regan. "Jerry Flannery was injured early on, which was hugely unfortunate for him as an individual, but Lee has really made the most of that and has done very well. He will start on Saturday, there is no doubt about that now.

"People worry about his size sometimes, but he is certainly strong enough – and it's good to see a bit of a nasty edge to his game now as well.

"I was his mentor at Bath and he has developed exceptionally over the past few years. It is great to see a protege of mine doing so well. Twelve years ago I went down there and played in a Test – and now Lee is about to do the same."

And Regan, who flies to South Africa today ahead of Thursday's Classic Lions match against Classic Springboks before a stint as a tour guide for former team-mate Victor Ubogu's sports travel company, has been encouraged by the tourists' form so far.

The Lions have won all five matches to date and are shaping up well ahead of Saturday's key Test in Durban.

Regan added: "I am always the optimist and I can see the Lions catching the Springboks cold on Saturday.

"Some of their players haven't played for three, four or even six weeks, so this weekend is a good opportunity. I fear, though, that if we don't win the first Test, we will lose the series 3-0. We need to go 1-0 up, because no team has ever gone to altitude and won back-to-back Test matches."