Lock Deni Ross will bring her freshly-earned experience in England to the Queensland Reds pack in Sunday's Super Rugby Women's trial against the Fijian Drua at Ballymore Stadium.
Ross played 10 games for the Leicester Tigers women's team during the off-season which has been valuable on multiple fronts.
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The healthy diet of consistent rugby in a forwards-orientated competition was a huge boost after a lower leg fracture limited her game time in Super Rugby Women's in 2025.
"You can see the benefits Deni gained from playing regular rugby in England," Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
"It hasn't just been in building her game but the strong direction she is now giving around scrum and lineout at training."
Ross will partner Lucy Thorpe at lock in Sunday's 2:05pm game which is the final hitout before the season starts in earnest against the ACT Brumbies at the same ground on June 7.
Black Ferns prop Tanya Kalounivale will start with Wallaroo Eva Karpani coming off the bench.
The starting backline is unchanged from the big 52-12 trial win over the Brumbies earlier this month.
The Sunday afternoon is highly appealing, especially for anyone who remembers when the Fijians last came to Ballymore in April last year.
The Reds won a thrilling semi-final 54-40 that day. It was a 14-try rollercoaster with the Reds leading 42-5 at half-time before the Fijians got on a dangerous roll.
"This is our last trial and we are definitely looking to build our cohesion by keeping combinations together," Fraser said.
"We showed a lot of firepower off the bench in the second half of our first trial against the Brumbies. We want to see a strong start in the first half against the Fijians.
"We all know how dangerous the Fijians are and how important it is to stifle their momentum. You have to play a good game throughout."
Hookers Roni Setu, Mary Tuaana and Ella Hopper will share the minutes to push their cases.
A minor ankle injury will keep No.8 Sarah Riordan on the sidelines this weekend.
2:05pm, Sunday
1 Bree-Anna Browne - Brothers
2 Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
3 Tanya Kalounivale - GPS
4 Deni Ross - Brothers
5 Lucy Thorpe - Bond University
6 Jemma Bemrose (c) - Bond University
7 Zoe Hanna - Bond University
8 Tiarna Molloy - Brothers
9 Sarah Dougherty - GPS
10 Akira Kelly - Bond University
11 Piper Flynn - Easts
12 Ava Wereta - Bond University
13 Harmony Vatau - Sunnybank
14 Charlie Brigstocke - GPS
15 Lori Cramer - University of Queensland
Replacements
16 Mary Tuaana - Wests
17 Jordan Neal - Brothers
18 Eva Karpani - Bond University
19 Hayley Glass - University of Queensland
20 Ella Hopper - Brothers
21 Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
22 Sarah Riordan - Brothers
23 Evie Sampson - Bond University
24 Charity Wightman-Beaven - University of Queensland
25 Aroha Spillane - University of Queensland
26 Briana Dascombe - Easts
27 Kaelyn Passi - Bond University
28 Kieran Berry - University of Queensland
