Ken Owens: Wales hooker should be fit for Lions - Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac

Ken Owens won his 50th Wales cap against France in the final game of the 2017 Six Nations

Wales hooker Ken Owens should be fit for the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand, according to his Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac.

Owens, 30, missed Friday's 25-17 Pro12 semi-final win over Irish side Leinster in Dublin with an ankle injury.

The Scarlets captain is a doubt for the Pro12 final on 27 May, but Pivac says the Lions tour is "probably a goer".

The squad fly out on 29 May with the first tour match against New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on 3 June.

"Ken is improving every day and very upbeat. By all accounts he is progressing well," Pivac said.

"We would like him to improve for next weekend but we are not sure there is the time."

The Lions trained in Wales this week and will meet up again in Dublin before flying to New Zealand on 29 May

Owens was assessed by Lions medical staff earlier in the week and will be again next week as the Lions move to a training camp in Dublin.

He is one of 12 Welshmen in the Lions squad and selection for his first tour followed a season when Owens made the Wales number two shirt his own and played his 50th game for his country in France.

Ireland skipper Rory Best and England's Jamie George are the other two hookers selected by the Lions.

Lions tour schedule