Reds coach Brad Thorn will put his faith in an undermanned squad as Queensland attempt to break a four-year South African hoodoo.
The Reds have not won in South Africa since 2015 when they posted a one-point win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and their odds of overcoming that record dipped with news Thorn will leave his best young talent in Australia for junior Wallabies commitments.
Isaac Lucas, Jack Hardy, Fraser McReight and the uncapped Harry Wilson will remain in the southeast to prepare for Australia's Oceania under-20 campaign, with the Reds facing a major backline reshuffle after winger Filipo Daugunu broke his arm in Friday night's 24-12 win over the Stormers.
With captain and form player Samu Kerevi also facing a sideline stint under Rugby Australia's resting policy ahead of the World Cup, Thorn will look to others including Aidan Toua, Teti Tela and Jock Campbell, while Daugunu's injury could lead to Brothers outside back Seb Wileman snaring a spot on the plane on Sunday.
The Reds' success in investing in its youth will come at a cost over the next fortnight but Thorn said it was a price the franchise was willing to pay.
"That's the thing when you bring through the young guys, it's probably a bit different for the other franchises," Thorn said.
"But we're very proud for them to represent Australia under-20s, so it's a good thing. It just makes it a bit interesting (in South Africa).
"There are opportunities for other guys and we've got to back them.
"They work hard all season and I don't like it when guys work hard but they're never considered.
"If they've worked hard and are in that squad, we have belief in the guys and back them."
The Reds' second-half revival after a scoreless opening half has given them confidence ahead of a trip to take on the Bulls and Sharks.
Thorn said it had been crucial to bounce back after the loss to the Rebels ahead of the South African tour.
"It was really important. The three home games in a row, I actually wanted to win all three," he said.
"But that wasn't to be and this one was really important."
"There were some missed opportunities at nil-all at halftime, so the guys had to persevere. It felt like it was there, we just had to keep persisting, keep working to our plan.
"The pay came in the second half. Obviously they were a man down (in the opening stages of the second half) and it was good to see us capitalising on that.
"There was lots of positive rugby out there, lots of endeavour - and there's a part of me that loves that, sometimes not dying wondering - but there's a measure of composure (needed) around that.
"Often, our biggest challenge, I feel, is us.
"We're so ambitious … it's just an experience thing but there's this part to it where it's delightful and playing some rugby and backing themselves.
"It's just continuing to work to find that middle ground."
Earlier, a second-half revival helped the Reds to a crucial 24-12 win over the Stormers in a perfect fillip ahead of their South African tour.
After an error-riddled opening term led to the first scoreless half in Super Rugby in six years, the Reds bounced back to score three tries in the second term, including two in the opening 10 minutes while Stormers captain Siya Kolisi was in the sin bin.
While the Stormers bounced back to pose a threat, Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott ensured the win when he darted over from 7m out after a penalty in the 66th minute, his decision showing his continuing evolution after sealing the no.9 jersey from Moses Sorovi.
Sorovi made a similarly big play five minutes later after coming on as a replacement when he rolled Kolisi over the tryline, just as the Stormers captain looked set to score and give his side a chance with 10 minutes remaining.
The Stormers did make it interesting when Damian de Allende scored in the 74th minute but when SP Marais missed the conversion from almost directly in front their night was over, with Bryce Hegarty sealing the victory with a 78th-minute penalty.
The Stormers made ground seemingly at will in the early stages and the Reds were lucky not to be two tries down inside the opening 20 minutes after both Damian Willemse and Sergeal Petersen had efforts disallowed.
Fullback Willemse only just failed to ground the ball before the dead-ball line and the Stormers were denied again just three minutes later, with Sergeal Petersen's right foot just brushing the line as Reds fullback Hamish Stewart made a desperate attempt to force him into touch despite being beaten.
The Reds had their chances but their failure to hold on to the ball meant they were unable to capitalise on the territorial gains they finally started to make.
While the Reds conceded seven turnovers and missed 11 tackles in the opening 40 minutes, they were matched by the Stormers, who made 10 turnovers and also missed 11 tackles.
The most costly stat proved to be captain Siya Kolisi's sin binning just before the break though.
The South Africans were also involved in the last scoreless Super Rugby half, in round three, 2013 against the Sharks in Durban.
But that wouldn't extend into the second half at Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds scored twice while Solisi was off the field, Samu Kerevi scoring just 90 seconds after the break following a neat outside-inside passing exchange with Sefa Naivalu.
And while Stewart seemed to have butchered a try when he did not pass to an unmarked Jack Hardy on his outside just minutes later, the Reds maintained possession and Brandon Paenga-Amosa rolled over the line to continue his try-scoring run.
But the inconsistency that has plagued the Reds' season featured again just minutes later, with flimsy tryline defence allowing Kobus van Dyk to crash over from close range to get the Stormers on the board.
A wrist injury to Filipo Daugunu inside the opening 15 minutes had forced a backline reshuffle from the Reds, with Duncan Paia'aua coming on at inside centre and Samu Kerevi and Sefa Naivalu shifting wide, bringing an early end to the monster midfield the Reds had taken into the match.
Kerevi made metres at will but was guilty of pushing the pass at times, with the Reds wasting plenty of opportunities with the game still in the balance.
Scrumhalf McDermott made the most of his chance though, deciding to tap and go after a penalty and burrowing over from 7m out.
Replacement half Moses Sorovi made a similarly big play five minutes later when he rolled Kolisi over the tryline, just as the Stormers captain looked set to score and give his side a chance with 10 minutes remaining.
The Stormers did make it interesting when Damian de Allende scored in the 74th minute but when SP Marais missed the conversion from almost directly in front their night was over.
Bryce Hegarty sealed the 24-12 win with a 78th-minute penalty.
RESULT
Reds 24
Tries: Samu Kerevi, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tate McDermott
Cons: Bryce Hegarty 3
Pens: Hegarty
Stormers 12
Tries: Kobus van Dyk, Damian de Allende
Cons: Jean-Luc du Plessis
