A week after being handed his Super Rugby debut, young gun Scott Malolua will start for the Reds, with Tate McDermott out of Friday's clash against the Blues with an ankle injury.
Malolua came off the bench in the Reds' loss to the Jaguares on Saturday, playing 25 minutes after McDermott limped from the field with an ankle injury.
And the rising Souths half is set to be rewarded for his efforts, beating Moses Sorovi for the starting role against the Blues.
Reds attack coach Jim McKay said Malolua deserved his opportunity.
"Scotty's plugged away all year. Sometimes you don't know how or when you're going to get your opportunity," McKay said.
"Tate picked up a slight knock last week. It would have been touch and go whether he played but we just moved on early in the week and Scott deserves his chance.
"He's clearly one of the better nines in the Brisbane competition and it's a terrific pathway and recognition of the work he's done.
"He played well for us off the bench, he knows our systems and it's a really good opportunity for us and he'll bring a lot of energy."
Sorovi, who started the season wearing the no.9, will come off the bench.
"Mo comes back off the bench and we know what Mo can do," McKay said.
The Reds have made three changes to their starting XV for the match, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto rested under Rugby Australia's workload management policy, while Izack Rodda and hooker Alex Mafi return to the starting side.
With the finals now totally off the table, the Reds are playing for pride, something McKay said could not be underestimated.
"Pride's massive for us. We have actually talked about it this week," he said.
"The guys have been fronting, especially the last month. We've been putting in the work, we've been putting in the effort.
"Yes, we've come up short but we've got to keep pushing.
"Every game is special. This game is no different.
"And we want to get a bloody win. We're really determined just to get across the line and get a reward for all the effort we've been putting in."
Fittingly for match played just days after the State of Origin rugby league clash, with theme for the Reds' final home match of the season is "Beat the Blues" and marks the first ever Super Rugby Mental Health round.
The game will raise awareness of mental health issues within Rugby as part of the Queensland Rugby Union’s (QRU) Rugby Unite mental health program.
The world-first Rugby Unite program, in partnership with the Queensland Government and the Queensland Mental Health Commission, provides mental health awareness sessions and volunteer training at all Queensland rugby clubs.
The Reds take on the Blues on Friday, June 7, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, live on Fox Sports, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au radio.
TEAM
Reds to face Blues
1. JP Smith – GPS
2. Alex Mafi – Bond University
3. Taniela Tupou – Brothers
4. Izack Rodda – Easts
5. Angus Blyth – Bond University
6. Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland
7. Liam Wright – Easts
8. Scott Higginbotham – Wests
9. Scott Malolua – Souths*
10. Matt McGahan – Norths
11. Filipo Daugunu – Wests
12. Samu Kerevi – Souths (c)
13. Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths
14. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland
15. Bryce Hegarty – GPS
Reserves
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sunnybank
17. Ruan Smith – GPS
18. Gav Luka – Bond University
19. Harry Hockings – University of Queensland
20. Adam Korczyk – University of Queensland
21. Moses Sorovi – Wests
22. Duncan Paia’aua – Norths
23. Hamish Stewart – Bond University
