Lions 2013: Prop Gethin Jenkins out of Barbarians game

Gethin Jenkins will miss the British and Irish Lions' opening match against the Barbarians because of injury.

The Wales prop, 32, has suffered a recurrence of his long-standing calf problem, ruling him out of the tour warm-up in Hong Kong on Saturday.

But head coach Warren Gatland expects the loose-head to be available next week once the Lions begin the Australia tour in earnest.

"It's three or four days before he's probably up and running," Gatland said.

"He's had ongoing problems with his calf for a long, long time but the physios are confident he'll be available for the second or the third game so it shouldn't hamper him too much."

Jenkins, who will return to Cardiff Blues next season after a year-long stay with Toulon, played the first two Tests on the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa before injury ruled him out of the finale in Johannesburg.

Wales' fourth most-capped international, with 98 appearances, suffered his latest calf injury when he came on as a replacement for Toulon in their Heineken Cup final victory over Clermont Auvergne.

There were no other reported problems amongst the English and Irish players who were delayed in joining the Lions squad because of their involvement in major club finals. Leinster beat Ulster in the Pro12 final, while Leicester overcame Northampton in the Aviva Premiership final.

Gatland said: "The players that are coming into the squad are battle-hardened. That's great, particularly the Leinster and Leicester players coming from two winning sides with that confidence.

"On the other hand, a lot of the Welsh players have had two weeks together as well and we've trained them pretty hard, we've got them up to a level of intensity, expectation and game awareness and game understanding.

"It'll be interesting to see between the two sets of players who hits the ground running the best.

"I think the Australian media and some ex-players have tried to play down our ability but I think they just don't know enough about us.

"But when they get out there and they see some of the athletes we've got, some of the skill and size and pace, I think they're going to be impressed and they're going to realise it's going to be a tough series."