After three bruising rounds of Super 14 rugby at home in Brisbane the battle weary Reds must rouse the remaining troops and head across the Ditch, like Caesar’s men crossing the Rubicon, to resurrect their season against the unbeaten Chiefs of Waikato who have returned to their fortress.

The injury tally is beginning to climb with each encounter meaning constant adjustments week-in week-out. Lineout ace and lock Van Humphries was ruled out after week 1 allowing captain and Wallaby James Horwill to move in from breakaway only to be ruled out the following week with a serious knee injury that has ended his season. Without the inspirational captain last week the team lost direction at times; which cost them points early in the second half. A head clash to speedster Rod Davis has resulted in him being sidelined for a month with a broken cheekbone and back-up five-eighth, Tim Walsh, who has continued his good form from the trials, is out for 5-weeks with a broken hand sustained at the weekend.

Also Wallaby Peter Hynes, revelling in the extra space after being converted to the vacant Reds’ fullback position, sustained multiple dislocations of his fingers putting him in doubt for Friday’s match. Furthermore, a bruising encounter for the Reds 2nd XV against the Junior Waratahs last Sunday at Ballymore has reserve half-back Richard Kingi (hamstring) looking doubtful. On the positive side, Ben Lucas showed in that match that he has fully recovered from a calf injury and has versatility playing half the match at half back & half at five-eighth. Not as impressive as Walsh in the trials he did steer Queensland to a win in the first trial against NSW in Lismore.

The task does not get any easier this Friday against last year’s runners up, the Waikato Chiefs, who have blitzed the field in South Africa with two from two and steamrolled the Western Force in Perth en-route home. Amassing 14 tries, second only to the Bulls 17 this season, the Chiefs are on a roll that a resurgent Reds outfit will be looking to stop. Having played valiantly against three of the stronger sides in the Super 14 competition in as many weeks their first away game could not be any more difficult.

McKenzie’s men head over to NZ with renewed belief in themselves, soething that was lacking just 12 months ago. They did have a win over there last year against Auckland, but were thoroughly routed at Suncorp by Waikato. One thing in the Reds favour will be the fact that fullback Mils Muliaina is still on a well earned sabbatical, though the Chiefs are playing very good rugby despite his absence.