Sam Warburton will make his debut as British and Irish Lions captain tomorrow and wants to lead his men through the tour unbeaten.

The first Welshman named as tour captain since Phil Bennett 36 years ago, Warburton takes charge for the Suncorp Stadium appointment with Queensland Reds.

Having missed opening victories over the Barbarians and Western Force for precautionary purposes while a puffy knee settled down, he is now raring to go.

"Andy Irvine, our tour manager, set the bar high for us and said there's never been a Lions tour where they have won every match," Warburton said. "I love that. You've got to aim for the stars, so that will be the goal. It might sound a bit disrespectful saying 'go through undefeated', but I remember an old PE teacher told me if you aim much higher than you initially would have, even if you still fall short you will have achieved more than you might have initially thought.

"Australia are a top-class side, and I have found that out the hard way over the last few years. It is just a goal – you have got to aim for it."

Flanker Warburton watched from the sidelines while the Lions scored a total of 128 points and 17 tries in their first two matches. The competition for back-row places remains fierce – with Justin Tipuric, then Sean O'Brien, playing starring roles.

"I have been in this position in the Six Nations when you've got to sit out a couple of games. I am pretty used to that," Warburton said. "The back row was always going to be one of the strongest positions. I first thought 'flipping heck, that's strong, look who is not there – Chris Robshaw, Stephen Ferris, if fit, Kelly Brown'. So it was always going to be a tough ask to play for the Lions in the back row.

"I have to fight as hard as anyone. I was honest with Warren (Lions head coach Warren Gatland) and said what I don't like about captaincy is you don't want to become complacent and know you've got a starting place. I like going to team meetings when they announce the squad. You want to have a surprise like everyone else; to go to bed the night before wondering if you are going to play.

"I think I am a good competitor who is always striving to get better. I would never sit back and relax, never think a Test spot would be assured."

If the Lions are to win a first Test series since 1997 and topple Australia, then it would mean Warburton could enjoy some welcome success at the Wallabies' expense.

Wales lost to them four times last year, in addition to a 2011 World Cup play-off defeat, but he has not succumbed to having an inferiority complex against them.

"In 2012, we played them four times and lost three of those games by a whisker," he said. "I like to think we can learn from those experiences, and then throw into the mix Scotland, Ireland and England, the best of those countries – that has now tipped the scales in our favour.

"I am always optimistic and extremely confident that we can do a good job over here. A lot of people complicate captaincy and ask me funny questions about it, but I've always just prioritised performance. I have a few things that I swear by as a captain – having a positive attitude, developing as a player and building up relationships, being professional and doing my job on the pitch. If I can tick those boxes I've done my job."

Two of Scotland's three Lions start tomorrow: Stuart Hogg has another chance to impress at full-back, while Richie Gray partners England's Geoff Parling, who makes his first start of the tour, in the second row.