New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said last week the schedule for the Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2017 was close to being finalised and the likely opponents for the touring team would be Super rugby franchises rather than the traditional provincial teams.
The last time the Lions toured in 2005, the side played provinces in between the three-test series, which the All Blacks won 3-0.
But the Super rugby competition was done and dusted by the time the touring side arrived at the start of June.
Since then, the Super rugby competition has expanded and the five New Zealand teams will still be playing when the Lions arrive in 2017.
The 10-match tour will consist of three tests and games against the five franchises, leaving two other games to be played.
One is likely to be early in the tour against New Zealand Maori.
The other match could possibly be against a New Zealand Barbarians-like side to give the All Black selectors a look at selection candidates.
All up, 14 bids from various regions have been made to New Zealand Rugby to host the Lions and a decision is expected in May.
A bid has been made by a group consisting of the Highlanders, Dunedin City Council and the Otago Rugby Football Union to get games to Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said he was hopeful of getting a game for the Highlanders against the touring side but doubted the city would get that and also host a test.
The reality was Dunedin may struggle to have the accommodation and the infrastructure to host a test on the scale of a match between the Lions and the All Blacks.
''I'm positive we will get a game down here which will be great. But the reality is for a country this size and a city like us we may struggle to get a test match.''
Two tests may be played in Auckland and one in Wellington.
Big sides such as the Lions tend to be based in one city and last time they came they spent the majority of time in Auckland.
Whether the Highlanders will have their All Blacks available for a match is still undecided.
Dunedin City Council enterprise director John Christie confirmed the bid but had no further comment.
DVML referred all comment to Christie.
Wales is touring New Zealand next year and Clark hopes the Highlanders will play the Welsh.
England last year and France in 2013 both played midweek games and it is hoped Wales will repeat that.
The Blues and the Crusaders had played these midweek games so the Highlanders were a chance to get a game.
Wales had yet to advise whether it would want a game.
Tew said last week the schedule for the 2016 and 2017 seasons would be released in May this year.
As well as the Lions and Welsh tours over the next couple of years, Bledisloe Cup games and Rugby Championship games would be played.
- Additional reporting NZME.
