The Queensland Reds will stick with their hot-and-cold midfield combination for what they view as their toughest match in the 2008 Super 14.

Reds coach Phil Mooney tonight revealed he would give talented five-eighth Quade Cooper a chance to atone for an off-day when he picks his team to play the Sharks in Durban.

Cooper was paired with Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes for the first time this year in the 24-all draw with the Lions and neither fired in Johannesburg.

Their combination with outside centre Morgan Turinui was also a far cry from the previous week when Charlie Fetoai lined up at inside centre for the injured Barnes in the 40-8 upset of the Bulls.

Whereas he was measured to control the game well against the Bulls, the elusive Cooper was guilty of overplaying his hand against the Lions.

“He did some good things but didn’t exhibit the same control from the week before but a midfield needs a bit of time together,” Mooney told AAP.

“It would be a bit harsh to change after one performance with Quade, Berrick and Morgan together.

“I’m prepared to give them a little bit more time to cement their combination.”

One change Mooney is set to make tomorrow for the round seven clash with the unbeaten, second-placed Sharks on early Sunday morning (AEST) is an alteration to his bench balance, adding a back to revert to the traditional 4-3 split.

Winger Digby Ioane returns from suspension to take Brando Va’aulu’s place while Fetoai is battling with Chris Siale to be the third reserve back.

Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore could regain his starting place from Sean Hardman after a barnstorming performance off the bench while veteran flanker David Croft is poised to return in a tweaked back-row.

Hardman has been cleared to play after x-rays confirmed he didn’t suffer a fractured eye-socket while the Reds are confident skipper Sam Cordingley should also be free to take his place.

Cordingley undergoes scans on his calf strain tomorrow but Queensland have opted against immediately flying halfback Will Genia across as cover.

The ninth-placed Reds have a major battle to stay in touch with the top four with an upset over the classy Sharks, who freshened up over the weekend with a bye.

“The two toughest games you could play are against the Sharks in Durban or the Crusaders in Christchurch,” he said.

“As we’ve got the Crusaders at home this year arguably this would be our toughest of the year.”

© AAP 2012

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