Published Monday, 01 June 2009
Ireland's Grand Slam skipper is one of 12 changes made by head coach Ian McGeechan to the side following Saturday's 37-25 victory over the Royal XV.
Ulster's Stephen Ferris makes the bench for the game in Johannesburg after recovering from a freak leg injury sustained as he got off the team bus at the very start of the tour.
O'Driscoll last captained the Lions on the ill-fated night in 2005 when he suffered a dislocated shoulder only a minute into the first Test against New Zealand.
Lions manager Gerald Davies said: "Everyone is also delighted that Brian O'Driscoll, the Irish Grand Slam skipper, will lead the team."
David Wallace remains in the back row but switches to openside while Jamie Roberts and winger Tommy Bowe have also been retained.
Full-back Rob Kearney, winger Ugo Monye, flanker Tom Croft and lock Nathan Hines will all make their Lions debuts at Ellis Park.
Number eight Jamie Heaslip, scrum-half Mike Phillips, lock Alun-Wyn Jones, prop Phil Vickery and hooker Lee Mears all start after coming off the bench in Rustenberg at the weekend.
McGeechan said: "The starting XV is very different to the one that played against the Royal XV on Saturday.
"There are only three players backing up from that match but six of the replacements have been promoted to Wednesday's starting XV for the Golden Lions match.
"This is in line with our intention that all players will play a full match in the first three matches on tour."
Team
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
11. Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
7. David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
6. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
4. Nathan Hines (Perpignan/Scotland)
3. Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
2. Lee Mears (Bath/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Replacements
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh/Scotland)
17. Euan Murray (Northampton Saints/Scotland)
18. Stephen Ferris (Ulster/Ireland)
19. Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
20. Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
21. James Hook (Ospreys/Wales)
22. Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales)