Carlisle star Chris Harris will make his debut for the British & Irish Lions in their first tour game in South Africa this weekend.

Harris has been drafted into the XI that will take on Emirates Lions.

It will be a landmark moment in the Gloucester centre’s career as he wins his first cap with the famous touring side.

Harris, who spent his formative years with Carlisle Rugby Club after attending Trinity School in the city, is in the Lions squad for the first time.

The 30-year-old did not feature in last weekend’s 28-10 victory over Japan in Edinburgh, but is included among 14 changes made by head coach Warren Gatland for the first tour game at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, on Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

Harris’s Scotland team-mate, Exeter Chiefs’ Stuart Hogg, will captain the side.

Louis Rees-Zammit, Hamish Watson and Jonny Hill will join Harris in making their Lions debuts in the first of eight tour games.

Gatland said: “It’s good to have arrived in Johannesburg and get the tour underway.

“We had a pleasing win last week up in Edinburgh, but there’s still plenty we need to get right on Saturday.

“I’ve been encouraged by the way the boys have trained this week. I feel it’s gone up a level from where we were in Jersey and we’re starting to see a better understanding of some of our tactics.

“There’s some new player combinations for us to have a look at this Saturday – which is good information for us as the Test series approaches.

“My congratulations to all those playing their first game as a Lion, and also to Hoggy too.”

Saturday's game is live on Sky Sports.