Wales hooker Ken Owens will captain Lions for clash against Blues

Wales hooker Ken Owens will captain the British and Irish Lions against the Blues at Eden Park on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old is one of six Welshmen to make the XV with Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar at half-backs.

Leigh Halfpenny will put on the Number 15 jersey as Justin Tipuric starts at openside.

Owens' Scarlets teammate and fullback Liam Williams is poised to make his Lions debut from the bench.

After narrowly defeating the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday morning, with Anthony Watson's try proving the game changer, Lions head coach Gatland has fielded a completely different starting XV in a bid to give every player an opportunity to showcase their talent.

“We have made 15 changes to the starting XV and we are excited to see what this team is able to do against the Blues.

“We have stated from the off that we want to give every player a start in the first three games and Wednesday is an opportunity for this set of players to show what they can do in a Lions jersey.

“It was good to get the win under our belts last weekend. The boys in the stand were itching to get their chance and they are really excited about Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, All Blacks centre Sonny BIll Williams has been asked to prove his fitness after being named provisionally in the Blues team to face the Lions.

Lions: Halfpenny; Nowell, Payne, Henshaw, Daly; Biggar, Webb; McGrath, Owens (C), Cole; Itoje, Lawes; Haskell, Tipuric, Stander.

Replacements: Best, Marler, Sinckler, Henderson, O’Mahony, Laidlaw, Sexton, Williams.

Blues: Michael Collins; Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams/TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane; Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu; Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons (capt), Charlie Faumuina, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Scott Scrafton, Akira Ioane, Steven Luatua, Blake Gibson.

Replacements: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane/Melani Nanai.