Bath prop Bell, who played for Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale, hopes to discover this week if he is eligible to play for for Wales on residency grounds.
But even if he is successful, he does not qualify for his adopted country until the day after the final Test of the tour against the Springboks on June 26.
IRB regulations may cut the plans short before then, however, because the 29-year-old tight-head toured with England in 1998.
Bell, who withdrew from an England A squad last month in order to pursue his claim with Wales, played against a New Zealand Academy side and sat on the bench in the 76-0 defeat to Australia in Brisbane.
Ironically the IRB tightened up regulations following the “Grannygate” scandal that rocked Welsh rugby in 2000 when Shane Howarth and Brett Sinkinson played for Wales without the correct qualifications.
The WRU however will cite the case of Australian-born Steve Devine who played for New Zealand in 2002 despite playing for the Australia Sevens side in 1998.
“Myself and Steve Lewis met Duncan last week,” said Wales team manager Alan Phillips.
“Following on from that we will be sending a letter to the IRB this week.
“Duncan has made it clear what his intentions are and we will do our best for him.”
