Reds call on Faingaa's number
Queensland Reds hooker Saia Faingaa and prop Ben Daley are the two changes made to the starting line-up for Friday's Round 11 Super Rugby clash against New Zealand Conference leaders, the Blues.
The Reds will enter Friday's match with the same 22 players who scored three tries to one in a 19-all draw with the Brumbies at the weekend although Faingaa and Daley come into the starting XV in place of James Hanson and Greg Holmes, who move to the bench.
For Faingaa, it will be his first starting opportunity since round five against the Western Force with the dreadlocked hooker also missing two games during this period with an injury to his neck.
Daley, who missed the opening six games due to calf and head injuries, has made three strong cameos from the bench in recent matches against the Highlanders, Chiefs and Brumbies, and now gets his first opportunity of 2013 in the No.1 jersey.
"The Blues are a very talented side and the short six-day turnaround makes things even more complicated for us, so to be able to maintain continuity in our selections is important," Reds Director of Coaching Ewen McKenzie said.
"We keep the same 22 players but are giving Saia and Ben the chance to start and bring something different to our game. They've obviously been frustrated by injuries earlier in the season, so I'm sure they're eager to grab the opportunity they've been given and run with it."
Reds: 15 Jono Lance, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 22 Dom Shipperley.
Date: Friday, April 26
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19.40 AEST (21.40 NZ time; 09.40 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
