Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Aidan Ross return to a remodelled Queensland Reds pack for Friday night’s clash against the Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium.
The final round of the regular season in Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific will determine the order of the top six into the qualifying finals.
The match against the dangerous Drua holds importance with the sixth-placed Reds still able to finish as high as fourth and tweak where they play in New Zealand the following week.
The match will be the focus of the Queensland Rugby Union’s 15th Indigenous Round with the Reds wearing a striking new Indigenous jersey.
Salakaia-Loto returns at lock after becoming a father for the third time on Tuesday. He will partner Josh Canham, who made a successful 80-minute comeback in last weekend’s 33-31 win over Moana Pasifika.
Ross is back at loosehead prop, after mending a foot injury, in a revised front-row with fellow Wallabies Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr.
In the backrow, Seru Uru will start at blindside flanker with Joe Brial reverting to the bench after the high-impact workload of starting in all 13 games this season.
In the backline, Hunter Paisami is back to partner Josh Flook in the centres while Lachie Anderson and Tim Ryan are on the wings.
Treyvon Pritchard switches from wing to fullback. In-form Jock Campbell is having a regeneration week which will be a benefit for a minor niggle after starting in 13 straight games.
“The Fijian Drua are a dangerous proposition. We are not in control of the permutations for the finals so all our focus is on addressing this game and getting the win,” Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said.
“The Drua showed with their win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra how strong they are. They are extremely tough customers at the breakdown with the turnovers they force and everyone knows they can counter-attack from anywhere if you let them.
“We welcome back Aidan from a foot issue and Lukhan has everyone’s best wishes as a new dad.
“Joe has started every game and played the most minutes of any forward for us. He’s taken his game to a new level this year and will be valuable impact from the bench.
“We are lucky to have a player as versatile as Filipo Daugunu. He will cover wing and the midfield for us from the bench.”
Friday, May 29
Suncorp Stadium
7:35pm AEST
Tickets: Queensland Reds v Fijian Drua
Watch live on Stan Sport
1 Aidan Ross - Bond University - Otumoetai College, NZ - Te Puke Sports
2 Matt Faessler - Brothers - Toowoomba Grammar - USQ Saints
3 Zane Nonggorr - Bond University - The Southport School - Gold Coast Eagles
4 Josh Canham - Bond University - Brighton Grammar, Melb - Harlequin RC, Melb
5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Souths - John Edmondson HS, Sydney - Southern Districts, Sydney
6 Seru Uru - Easts - Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli RC, Fiji
7 Fraser McReight (c) - Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies
8 Harry Wilson - Brothers - St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace - Gunnedah Red Devils
9 Tate McDermott - University of Queensland - Sunshine Coast Grammar - Flinders RC
10 Carter Gordon - Wests - Brisbane Boys' College – Wests
11 Tim Ryan - Brothers - St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
12 Hunter Paisami - Wests - Mangere College, Auckland - Manukau Rovers
13 Josh Flook - Brothers - Nudgee College - Brothers
14 Lachie Anderson - University of Queensland - Oakhill College, Sydney - Dural RC, Sydney
15 Treyvon Pritchard - Brothers - Anglican Church Grammar School - Springfield Hawks
16 Richie Asiata - Sunnybank - Anglican Church Grammar School
17 George Blake - Bond University - The Southport School - Fasi Maufanga Eels, Tonga
18 Massimo De Lutiis - Wests – The Southport School – Surfers Paradise Dolphins
19 Vaiuta Latu - Brothers - St Peters Lutheran College - Pine Rivers Pumas
20 Joe Brial - University of Queensland - Scots College - Easts, Sydney
21 Louis Werchon - Wests - Sunshine Coast Grammar - Maroochydore Swans
22 Ben Volavola - Sunnybank - Newington College - Seaforth Raiders, Sydney
23 Filipo Daugunu - Sunnybank - Dogotuki District School, Fiji
