Dan Sheehan will captain the British & Irish Lions in the first game on Australian soil when the tourists take on Western Force at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday (11am Irish time).
Andy Farrell has given the Leinster and Ireland hooker the honour of leading a matchday 23 that includes 11 Irish players.
Sheehan is one of eight Irish starters in Perth, joined by his Leinster team-mates Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier, all making their Lions debuts. Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne and Mack Hansen round out Ireland’s starting contingent.
Tom Court - Ireland's accidental Lion
A further four players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench – England and Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum, Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones, Ireland and Leinster prop Andrew Porter and England and Bath prop Will Stuart.
Rónan Kelleher, who featured as a replacement in the Lions’ 28-24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin last week, and Jack Conan are also among the replacements.
“We have had a good week of training, and all of the travel and time zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go,” said Farrell.
“Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family, so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut.
“We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best,” Farrell added.
LIONS: Elliot Daly (Saracens/England); Mack Hansen (Connacht/Ireland), Garry Ringrose (Leinster/Ireland), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), James Lowe (Leinster/Ireland); Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland), Tomos Williams (Gloucester/Wales); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh/Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland); Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland), Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland); Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland), Josh van der Flier (Leinster/Ireland), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland), Will Stuart (Bath/England), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England).
WESTERN FORCE: Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ollie Hoskins; Sam Carter, Darcy Swain; Will Harris, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Vaiolini Ekuasi.
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle.
