Lions coach Warren Gatland has named Irish lock Iain Henderson as his captain for their tour clash with the Sharks on Wednesday.
The Ulster man was the "obvious choice" according to Gatland due to his "experience and stature in the game."
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match Gatland explained his thoughts on Henderson's credentials.
"His experience, previous Lions tourist, captain of Ulster, captained Ireland as well," said Gatland. "He brings a calm approach to it.
"There are a couple of other players we could have looked at but he was an obvious choice for us given his experience and stature in the game.
"It was a natural fit for us and a great honour for him too."
In what is a new-look Lions side, Adam Beard, Tom Curry and Josh Navidi are set to make their Lions debuts.
There is also a first international start in three years for flanker Sam Simmonds.
Simmonds has been ignored over the last years by England coach Eddie Jones.
"It's a quick turnaround from Saturday, but we'll be ready to go by Wednesday night," Gatland said in a statement naming the team. He was to hold a news conference later on Monday.
"I'm pleased we managed to come through the weekend's game unscathed, and the boys have rested and recovered well. We feel like we're slowly building, but, as ever, there's still room for improvement in all facets of our game.
"Wednesday night is another chance for us to have a look at a few more combinations. I'm looking forward to seeing how the back row goes. It's an exciting mixture and one that we hope will offer something a bit different.
"We expect another physical test against a side who are known for their power play and ambition."
The Lions opened their tour on Saturday with a 56-14 win over their Johannesburg namesakes.
