British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones has admitted that he is "chuffed" to be starting in the tour opener against the Barbarians on Saturday.
The 32-year-old, who made two appearances on the 2009 tour, was one of nine Welshmen named by head coach Warren Gatland to start the match in Hong Kong at the weekend.
Jones admits that he is delighted to have been given an early chance to prove himself on the tour.
"Well I am chuffed to bits to be starting the first game of the tour against the Barbarians on Saturday," Jones wrote in his column for BBC Sport.
"Obviously it was on the cards I would be involved, with so many of the other guys involved in finals and not being able to attend our training camps.
"But it is still great to hear your name read out. Sometimes you get told individually, or if you are not playing the coaches might have a quiet word so you are not shocked, or start crying in the meeting. But Gats just announced the team to everyone, nothing flash. It is great to get a chance to put down a marker early in the tour."
The Lions face the Barbarians in Hong Kong on Saturday.
Matt Cotton
