Donncha O’Callaghan will captain The British & Irish Lions in Tuesday’s clash with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

The Ireland lock, who also started against Western Province on Saturday, will line up alongside Simon Shaw in the second row.

Nathan Hines, a lock by trade, has been selected a blindside flanker in a back row which sees Joe Worsley at openside flanker and Andy Powell at eight for the second successive game.

Andrew Sheridan has been named at loose-head, which would suggest that Gethin Jenkins is now set to start against South Africa on Saturday. Joining Sheridan in the front row against The Kings will be Ross Ford, at hooker, and Euan Murray, at tight-head.

James Hook will partner Mike Blair in the half-backs, with the latter having been given the all-clear to return after being forced to pull out of Saturday’s clash with Western Province with a foot injury.

Riki Flutey and Gordon D’Arcy have been paired together in midfield, while Keith Earls will start at full-back, with Shane Williams and Luke Fitzgerald either side of the versatile Munster man in the back three.

Regarding his team selection, McGeechan commented: "This is Test week and there is a noticeable change in attitude within the touring party. We are now heading towards the business end of the tour and the reason why we have come to South Africa.

”As you would expect the immediate focus is the next match against the Southern Kings on Tuesday before attention turns to selection for the First Test for which all players will be considered.

"The Southern Kings is not a regular team but we understand there are some very talented players in the squad for the match. Experience tells me that you can never underestimate any South African team and like the other teams we have faced on the tour so far we will not take them lightly.

"Seven players are backing up from the Western Province match with Nathan Hines, Joe Worsley, Riki Flutey and Keith Earls given the opportunity in the starting XV in different positions. The team will be captained by proud Munster man Donncha O'Callaghan, an experienced Lions tourist, who is a very popular member of the squad. This will be his tenth Lions match including two Tests against New Zealand during the 2005 tour.”

McGeechan confirmed that Mike Blair is fit to start being forced to withdraw from the squad for Saturday’s clash with Western Province because of a foot injury.

British & Irish Lions: K Earls; S Williams, R Flutey, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Hook, M Blair; A Sheridan, R Ford, E Murray; S Shaw, D O’Callaghan (capt); N Hines, J Worsley, A Powell.

Replacements: M Rees, A Jones, T Croft, D Wallace, H Ellis, R O’Gara, U Monye.