Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Les Kiss is confident his in-form Queensland Reds have the gears needed to end their Fiji drought, even without two rested stars.
The Reds will aim for a fourth-straight Super Rugby Pacific win for the first time since 2022 in Saturday’s clash with the Drua at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
But the hosts, fresh off defeating the Hurricanes and Brumbies, are chasing a third-straight win for the first time since joining the league in that same year.
Stephen Larkham was prompted to rest a host of his regular Brumbies starters as part of Rugby Australia and World Rugby’s management protocols for Test talents and Kiss has done similar this week.
Captain and star No.7 Fraser McReight didn’t make the trip, nor did in-form flyhalf Carter Gordon.
Josh Flook, who this week confirmed his move to Italy’s Benneton next season, is out injured while Test prop Zane Nonggorr has also been rested.
But Hunter Paisami is back from injury to link with Isaac Henry in the midfield while Kalani Thomas will start in the No.9, ahead of Louis Werchon, for the first time this season.
Gordon scored match-sealers in the last two games but it will be understudy Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Fiji product Ben Volavola – on the bench for his likely Reds debut – tasked with pulling the strings in Lautoka.
In-form utility Filipo Daugunu said he’d asked for 100 tickets to accommodate family, while fellow Fijian product Seru Uru will also relish the homecoming.
“We’re going hard for the game, going strong,” Kiss said after detailing what he called “regeneration weeks” for his rested stars.
“A few little changes, but nothing significant.
“We’ve blended our game … (there’s) a smarter mix in terms of kicking and possession but we haven’t lost that verve and ambition to play a style of football that can stretch oppositions.”
The Reds beat the Drua 52-7 to complete the regular season last year and even the overall head-to-head at 3-3.
All three of those Drua wins have come in Fiji, including a last-gasp 36-33 win on the Reds’ last visit.
“They’ve been impressive … once they’re in good form the crowd gets behind them,” Kiss said.
“We’ve got enough experience there to handle it, but it’ll be a challenge.”
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson will lead the Reds in McReight’s absence.
