Tom Curry and his back-row colleagues have been instructed to go on the rampage when the British and Irish Lions clash with the Sharks in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The explosive England forward is the only member of the original squad selected by Warren Gatland not to have been involved in the wins against Japan and the Sigma Lions after he came into camp with a pectoral injury sustained on club duty for Sale.
But he will make his first appearance of the tour at openside flanker and forms a dynamic loose trio full of ball-carrying clout alongside compatriot Sam Simmonds and Wales' Josh Navidi.
"There are a couple of other players who we could have looked at but I just thought that Iain's an obvious choice for us given his experience and stature in the game," Gatland said.
"I spoke to (Ireland head coach) Andy Farrell during the Six Nations and he was full of praise for Iain's leadership and what he was bringing to the Ireland side. He's a natural fit for us."
Conor Murray, Jones' permanent replacement as tour skipper, is on the bench as scrum-half cover for Gareth Davies, who is making his first start of the tour at Emirates Airline Park.
Gatland has stuck to his policy of ensuring all squad members will start at least one of the first three games with wing Anthony Watson, centre Elliot Daly, props Mako Vunipola and Zander Fagerson, second row Adam Beard and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie also in action.
The Lions boss is adamant that selection for the series against the Springboks, which begins in Cape Town on July 24, is wide open.
"As we get a little bit closer to the Test series we'll start looking at potential combinations," he said.
"I want this group of men to feel that everyone has an opportunity, particularly right up until the Test matches. We won't be showing our hand in terms of what we think the Test side will be.
"The message four years ago to the players who played on the Tuesday night before the first Test was that we hadn't selected the first Test team and there was still positions and spots up for grabs.
"A couple of players played well that night and were selected in that first Test team. I think that, as players, they want to hear that message.
"They want to hear that we haven't made up our mind and that everyone has an opportunity."
