The Reds were dealt a cruel blow when Wallaby wing Digby Ioane was sent back home from the Queensland team’s tour of South Africa with a knee injury.

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Ioane, who was chosen on Sunday in Australia’s 25-man preliminary squad for next month’s Test series against the British and Irish Lions, will have scans when he arrives in Brisbane, officials said.

“Digby has been ruled out of Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Stormers in Cape Town with soft tissue damage to his left knee,” a team statement said.

“While the injury is not considered serious, Digby will return to Australia on Monday to receive scans and further assessment on the injury he sustained in the Reds’ match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.”

The Reds have turned their attention to the Stormers, after commencing their two-game South African campaign with a 13-27 loss to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

Two tries to Cheetahs scrumhalf Piet van Zyl gave the Cheetahs an 18-6 advantage at half-time and despite the Reds continued attacking intent they failed to convert pressure into points with poor ball security ruining any chances of a second half comeback.

The Reds did cross the line on five occasions although the TMO ruled against the Queenslanders on four of those occasions – with the Reds twice held-up, an obstruction penalty early in the match and a forward pass ruled against flyhalf Quade Cooper.

Eight points through the boot of Cooper and a late try to Ben Lucas was their only reward in a game where the Cheetahs snapped a three-game losing streak to the Reds dating back to 2010.

The Reds now have a week to regroup before they take on the Stormers in Cape Town and will be determined to replicate the success of their last visit to Newlands Stadium 2011, where Director of Coaching Ewen McKenzie’s men triumphed 19-6.

Despite the loss, only the Reds third of the season, they continue to sit just marginally behind Australian Conference leaders the Brumbies by two competition points after the ACT-based province lost only hours earlier to the Waratahs.

The result against the Cheetahs also puts to an end the opportunity to finish the 2013 season unbeaten against international opposition after the Reds entered the match with six wins and no losses, including a clean sweep of New Zealand opponents.