Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has confirmed Wallaby Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as a big inclusion for their away clash with the Highlanders.
New recruit Salakaia-Loto has not played for the Reds yet in 2025 after suffering a leg injury during pre-season.
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The 28-year-old is line to pull on the Queensland jersey for the first time since 2022 after a brief stint with the Rebels and Northampton Saints.
Salakaia-Loto's return will offset the expected loss of Fraser McReight (shoulder) after he picked up a knock during the win over the Waratahs.
"It's been a massive addition from day one, really. He comes from here in terms of his Super Rugby history, so it's great to have him back," Kiss told the media.
"Unfortunately, we lost him to that injury in the pre-season tour, but he's just worked hard behind the scenes. I think the biggest quality is the type of leadership he brings, he's an imposing figure anyway, but his leadership off the park, even when he's been injured, has been impressive.
"The other part of that is we know what type of destruction he can cause in opposition, so we're just looking forward to him. He'll be coming off the bench for us, but he's involved against the Highlanders this week, which is great for us."
Kiss backed the depth in the back row to step up for the challenge of the Highlanders, who are motivated after a tough loss to the Hurricanes.
"We've got Joe Brial and John Bryant, two great young back rowers for us," he said.
"I think what we saw last year when we put John Bryant into the team when we lost Fraser for a while. He's got good speed; he surprises people with his speed along the ground.
"His jackalling skills have really improved. He has similar link skills to Fraser's, which is important for us, and all our back row has that skill.
"Joe Brial will also provide that us which we will need against a tough Highlanders side.
Forsyth Barr Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the Reds, who haven't won since their inaugural meeting at the ground in 2013.
In fact, it's the only away win for the Queensland side against the Highlanders in their 13 fixtures.
"It's a good challenge for us to go to Dunedin under the roof with some really rowdy students in the crowd," Kiss added.
"It's quite distracting, but to go there and enjoy that occasion and hopefully we can improve on our performance when we were last in New Zealand.
"Playing any New Zealand team at any time is daunting, but over there even more so. But I think we gained confidence out of it last year, we'll definitely go over there and win some games.
"The win against New South Wales on the weekend certainly has bolstered the confidence as well so we've got a game that we think we can win with, we've just got to go and put it on the park."
