Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has made two changes to his starting team for Saturday’s clash against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium with prop Guy Shepherdson earning his run-on debut for Queensland.
Shepherdson, coming in for injured tighthead James Slipper (collarbone), is one of four changes to the squad which defeated the Bulls 39-30 at the weekend.
Flyer Rod Davies has also been ruled out because of a knee injury, giving Ben Lucas another opportunity at fullback while the dynamic Luke Morahan shifts to the wing.
The final change sees winger Dom Shipperley gain selection on the bench in what could potentially be both his Reds and Super Rugby debut.
“We have the luxury of two quality options to replace James Slipper in both Guy Shepherdson and Greg Holmes but Guy is a specialist at the tighthead position so we believe he has earned an opportunity to start,” head coach Ewen McKenzie said.
“Being able to bring in someone who has played 71 Super Rugby games and 18 Tests just highlights some of the depth we have created for this season and I have every confidence he will stand up to the task.
“Losing Rod is disappointing but Ben excelled in his opportunities at fullback prior to his injury almost a month ago and Luke is just as comfortable on the wing as he is in the number 15 jersey.
“We’re also bringing in an absolute speed merchant on the bench in Dom Shipperley and he is jumping out of his skin at the chance he has been given.”
Shepherdson joined the Reds in 2011 following a distinguished seven-year career with the Brumbies, where he accumulated 70 Super Rugby games following his debut in 2004 against the Blues.
The 119kg prop made his debut for the Reds off the bench in their recent 19-6 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Shipperley, 20, was given a fulltime Reds contract in 2011 after excelling previously in the QAS Reds Academy, in the Australian Sevens team and before that as a highly regarded schoolboy representative.
Reds
1. Ben Daley , 2. Saia Faingaa , 3. Guy Shepherdson , 4. Rob Simmons , 5. James Horwill (C) , 6. Radike Samo , 7. Beau Robinson , 8. Scott Higginbotham , 9. Will Genia (VC) , 10. Quade Cooper , 11. Digby Ioane , 12. Mike Harris , 13. Anthony Faingaa , 14. Luke Morahan , 15. Ben Lucas
Replacements: 16. James Hanson , 17. Greg Holmes , 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison , 19. Leroy Houston , 20. Liam Gill , 21. Will Chambers , 22. Dom Shipperley