As the Reds prepare for their 1000th capped match, Queensland legend Dan Crowley believes the club is on the road to reclaiming its identity.
Crowley is a member of Queensland's prestigious 100 cap club, the loosehead prop in the state's team of the century and a two-time World Cup winner but he cherishes few things more than his early memories of Ballymore on a Sunday afternoon.
It's there, as a schoolboy, that Crowley fell in love with rugby during the Paul McLean and Tony Shaw era.
In Crowley's eyes, the identity which underpins Queensland rugby was built on those Sunday afternoons.
"You wouldn't find one guy who had gone out there and dogged it," Crowley told RUGBY.com.au.
"I think we may have lost there for a while there, what it means to play for Queensland.
"When you're playing for Queensland it's a privilege.
"It's a privilege to represent your state and that's exactly what you're doing when you pull the jersey on."
While Crowley believes the Reds may have lost that never say die attitude over the last five years, he has been impressed with the young core driving the Brad Thorn era.
"They're starting to go out there and show that they're willing to have a dig but they're obviously a young group," Crowley said.
"When I was playing you learnt your trade by playing club rugby and a lot of these guys now have to learn by playing Super Rugby.
"It will take a bit of time but they're definitely back on the right path."
Crowley will be one of about 50 Vintage Reds that line the Suncorp Stadium tunnel as the Reds take to the field against the Chiefs and it will take a performance befitting of the occasion to roll the Damian McKenzie-led outfit.
Saturday night's jersey will be embroidered to mark the occasion and while Crowley was pleased to see the heritage jersey return against NSW last year, it's one thing he wished would stay sacred.
"I don't think they ever should have got rid of the jersey in the first place," he said.
"That's our jersey and it's the same thing with the Wallabies - you don't see the All Blacks changing theirs.
"Pulling on that jersey is what it's all about."
The Reds face the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and viaRUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
