Wales hooker Ken Owens will take over the Lions captaincy for Wednesday’s game against the Blues.
Warren Gatland has named entirely different XV – including 11 debutants – as part of his plan to give every member of the 41-man squad a start in the first three games of the tour.
Owens – nicknamed The Sheriff among other labels – missed the end of the club season with an ankle injury but will make his comeback by leading a new look team featuring six Englishmen, five Welshman and four Irishmen.
“Ken has worked really hard on his recovery and it’s great to have him available,” said Gatland. “He has captained the Scarlets and has assumed a leadership role within the camp and it is a great opportunity for him.”
Sticking with tried and tested combinations, Gatland has selected the Wales and Ospreys half-back pairing of Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar to face the All Black-studded franchise at Eden Park.
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny starts at full-back, while countryman Justin Tipuric will wear the No 7 jersey in a back-row completed by Irish No 8 CJ Stander and English flanker James Haskell.
Ireland pair Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw make up the centre partnership – facing off against an experienced All Blacks combination of Sonny Bill Williams and George Moala.
‘We are expecting a big crowd at Eden Park,’ said Gatland. ‘It will be the first of three matches there for us and we know the atmosphere will be outstanding. We are hoping for some good weather and are expecting a tough, fast and open game of rugby.
‘We have a few work-ons from last weekend and we know we need to be more clinical. We created some good opportunities against the Barbarians but didn’t see them through and that is something we want to improve on.’
The tourists must build on Saturday’s limp 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians.
England pair Elliot Daly and Jack Nowell start on the wings, while Red Rose team-mates Courtney Lawes and Maro Itoje take over from Alun-Wyn Jones and Iain Henderson at lock.
Props Jack McGrath and Dan Cole complete the pack, either side of Owens.
‘It was good to get the win under our belts last weekend,’ added Gatland. ‘ The boys in the stand were itching to get their chance and they are really excited about Wednesday.’
Lions team to play the Blues:
- Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775
- Jack Nowell – Exeter Chiefs, England
- Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland
- Robbie Henshaw – Leinster, Ireland
- Elliot Daly – Wasps, England
- Dan Biggar – Ospreys, Wales
- Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820
- Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland
- Ken Owens (Capt) – Scarlets, Wales
- Dan Cole Leicester Tigers, England, #794
- Maro Itoje – Saracens, England
- Courtney Lawes – Northampton Saints, England
- James Haskell – Wasps, England
- Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales,#786
- CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland
Replacements
- Rory Best – Ulster, Ireland, #793
- Joe Marler – Harlequins, England, #811
- Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
- Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
- Peter O’Mahony – Munster, Ireland
- Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester, Scotland, #810
- Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
- Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales
