In the absence of Six Nations skipper and Glasgow teammate Gordon Bulloch, who tours with the Lions this summer, JP has been given the nod by interim coach Frank Hadden for the Pittodrie clash with the Barbarians on May 24 and against Romania in Bucharest on June 5.
JP told the Daily Mail: "It's a big chance for people to prove themselves, coaches and players, and if things go well over the next few weeks positions might become longer term."
After the depression of the country's fortunes under sacked Australian Matt Williams in the past two seasons, the matches are seen as vitally important for the team to get a doubting public back on their side again.
"Everyone's aware that it's a fresh start for us. There's been a bit of a low for the past year but everyone's enthusiastic about it now.
"I'm aware that I don't just need to prove myself as captain, I need to prove myself as a player because when everyone's around I'm not an automatic choice.
"But if I can captain the side well and be on top of my game as well then you never know what can happen."
You can read the Daily Mail article here