Utility back Ben Lucas has been charged with upping the tempo for Super Rugby leader Queensland against the Sharks in Durban this weekend. Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has made six personnel changes and a significant positional switch to his unbeaten side.
Goalkicker Mike Harris started the first three games at five-eighth, but McKenzie has shifted the New Zealander to inside centre.
He has chosen Lucas in the pivot position, with Jono Lance dropping out of the side.
Wallabies outside back Rod Davies has been named at fullback, with Luke Morahan demoted to the bench.
In the forwards, loosehead prop Greg Holmes and lock Van Humphries will each make their first run-on appearances of the year.
They replace Ben Daley and Rob Simmons respectively, with both named among the reserves.
McKenzie has also rejigged his back row, recalling openside flanker Beau Robinson, No.8 Radike Samo and relegating youngsters Liam Gill and Jake Schatz to the bench.
While Queensland have made a successful start to their title defence, their attack has not flowed so smoothly without injured five-eighth Quade Cooper.
McKenzie said his side weren’t far away from producing a good performance.
“We don’t want to go out there and be passive and wait and see what the Sharks are going to throw at us,” McKenzie told AAP from South Africa.
“We want to get out there and take the game and get on with it.
“One of the things we’ve identified is to play with a bit more tempo.
“We’ve been a bit stop-start and haven’t generated the pressure we wanted to generate, so we’re going to challenge ourselves and I think Benny Lucas has got the right spirit.
“Plus he’s another halfback in affect. If you’ve got halfback passing to halfback, it gives us a better chance to get width into our passing so we can use the ball better.
“Mike is very good at that 12 role. He’s had a lot of pressure on him having to take Quade’s spot.
“Now we’ve given him a different role and a role he is familiar with, so he can mentally approach it a bit differently, take some of the pressure of him as well.”
Halfback Nick Frisby could make his Super debut off the bench.
Queensland: Rod Davies, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Will Genia, Radike Samo, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, James Horwill (capt), James Slipper, James Hanson, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley, Rob Simmons, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Nick Frisby, Luke Morahan.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
It was a memorable night in more ways than one for the Queensland forward.
The youngster was playing his first Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench, but his game wasn't the main talking point after the game.
Is this a sign that rugby laws are getting too tricky, even for the players and commentators?
The kick of around 50 metres got the Reds well downfield!
The Reds centre had to leave the field to get the shoulder popped in, with fears he will need several weeks on the sideline…
Not only did the Queensland fullback keep up with his opponent, but then was quick enough to force a turnover penalty in the ruck.
