Restocked Reds prepped for 'do or die' footy
Fraser McReight is confident his Queensland Reds are yet to hit top gear, dismissing their poor record against Super Rugby's best sides ahead of the finals.
The Reds host Fijian Drua in their final regular season game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, with the visitors winless away from home this season and out of top-six contention.
Queensland can finish as high as fourth, which would still mean a road trip to begin their finals series but increase their chances of a second life, as the highest-placed loser in the new-look format, should they stumble next week.
Fifth entering the final round, the Reds are yet to beat any of the sides sitting above them this year.
A tight loss to the Hurricanes last week followed a pair of narrow defeats to the ACT Brumbies, while they were also beaten in New Zealand by the Chiefs and Crusaders.
But McReight is adamant Queensland are capable.
"We can mix it with anyone," he said, adding the Reds could go up a gear.
"The last few weeks, we have had some up and down performances, had our chances.
"But we're getting some key members back and building for next week and do-or-die footy."
Test centre Josh Flook will be the latest reinforcement, back from a hamstring injury, after incumbent Test skipper Harry Wilson made an impressive return from a broken arm last week.
Halves pairing Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh will also be hopeful of steering the Reds deep into the finals, with Test coach Joe Schmidt acknowledging that as an advantage at the selection table.
That continuity will reach new heights next year, with McDermott confirming on Friday he would not take up the option of a sabbatical to play overseas next season.
The Drua are winless away from home this year but remain dangerous, as the Reds are well aware after falling victim for a third time in Fiji earlier this season.
"They're a pretty dangerous side but in the weather … we have a great set piece game so hopefully we can use that to our advantage and it's too wet for us to also move the ball and have some fun with it," McReight said.
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The Suva-based Drua won four games on home soil, including their clash with the Reds, but weren't able to muster a victory on the road as they finished second-last in their fourth campaign. They had themselves to blame after an encouraging start, with Iosefa Masi yellow carded for up-ending Jock Campbell in the ruck and then Etonia Waqa binned in the second half for taking out Tim Ryan's legs in the air. Haereiti Hetet scored their sole try while hooker Tevita Ikanivere, in his 50th game for the fledgling Drua, was denied from a trick play from the lineout. He charged through two would-be tacklers only to be sent into touch by a flying Lynagh, who again showed defensive grit to go with offensive flourish. A historic four-try first half from winger Lachie Anderson ensured no hiccups for the Queensland Reds against the Fijian Drua in a soggy Super Rugby Pacific finals warm-up. Anderson scored three times inside 10 minutes while the Drua were a man down in the first half, then added another before the main break to set a new mark for the Reds in a 52-5 Saturday win. He's only the third Australian to score four tries in a Super Rugby game, after Joe Roff in 1996 and Drew Mitchell in 2010. Most were handed to Anderson on a platter, especially a neat cross-field kick from clinical flyhalf Tom Lynagh for his fourth. But the haul was just reward for a fine season from the former rugby sevens and Melbourne Rebels recruit. Anderson did his best to keep his starting berth for Friday's sudden death quarterfinal in Christchurch against the Crusaders, a match-up that had already been locked in before the fifth-placed Reds took the field on Saturday. Test centre Josh Flook also scored in his confident return from a long-term hamstring injury, but the red-hot Filipo Daugunu will surely start in the centres or on a wing next week after coming off the bench on Saturday night and scoring a late try. Joe Brial completed the rout with a try on the full-time siren. There were concerns for Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson though, who returned from a fractured arm last week but left the field later in the second half on Saturday seemingly in pain. The Suva-based Drua won four games on home soil, including their clash with the Reds, but weren't able to muster a victory on the road as they finished second-last in their fourth campaign. They had themselves to blame after an encouraging start, with Iosefa Masi yellow carded for up-ending Jock Campbell in the ruck and then Etonia Waqa binned in the second half for taking out Tim Ryan's legs in the air. Haereiti Hetet scored their sole try while hooker Tevita Ikanivere, in his 50th game for the fledgling Drua, was denied from a trick play from the lineout. He charged through two would-be tacklers only to be sent into touch by a flying Lynagh, who again showed defensive grit to go with offensive flourish.
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