Queensland have made several changes to their starting XV as they prepare to face the Waratahs in Saturday's top-of-the-table Super W clash against NSW.
Despite racking up a century against the Rebels in their last start, Reds coach Moana Virtue has again shuffled her starting side as Queensland attempt to notch their first Super W victory against their great rivals.
With both sides unbeaten, the result is likely to decide which team is granted direct access to the Super W decider, with the loser having to progress through a preliminary final.
Virtue has made five changes to the starting XV that ran out against the Rebels, with Kiri Lingman returning to the starting side from injury, partnering Shannon Mato in the second row.
Lavinia Gould will make her first start of the season at openside flanker, moving into the forward pack after starting the season in the centres.
Gould, who trained with the forwards in the pre-season, shuffles into the pack to accommodate Haj Moseby, who makes her Queensland and Super W debut at 12.
Moseby, a member of the Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s Sevens program, had to put her Super W aspirations on hold due to Sevens commitments, however with an altered international calendar due to cancelled World Series events, she has been released from the national sevens program for the remainder of the Super W season.
At the scrum base, Ayane Hirata returns at no.9, with Cobie-Jane Morgan shifting to the reserves.
On the bench, Australian Defence Force teammates Bree-Anna Cheatham and Sarah Riordan both return to the side. For Riordan, this will be potentially her first game for Queensland since the 2018 grand final, having missed last season through injury.
The match is the Reds' first against the Waratahs on home soil since the opening Super W fixture in 2018.
Lingman said playing the competition's biggest match of the season at home was a real advantage.
"We've spent a lot of time playing them in NSW, so it'll be good to see how we go with our families here and our home ground at Ballymore, it's our favourite place to play," she said.
"Looking back to the previous two grand finals, there's a lot of competitiveness between us and the Tahs and it's good to come up against such a fierce competition and it does wonders for the sport as a whole when we move further.
"It's really exciting and it's our favourite game of the year."
While the clash could also determine Wallaroos places, Lingman said the Reds' focus was squarely on the Super W competition.
"We always have a huge representation from both teams in the Wallaroos but at the moment we're just focusing on Super W as a whole and getting that grand final spot," she said.
A win would not only hand Queensland the first grand final spot, but give them hosting rights, something that would give their hopes of winning a maiden title a massive boost.
And while Saturday's clash is a one-off, Lingman admitted it was difficult to put the first two grand final campaigns totally out of mind.
"It's hard to forget those two grand final losses, so they'll be lingering in the back of the mind a little bit this weekend and we'll be firing up," she said.
The Reds take on the Waratahs at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, March 7, kicking off at 4pm AEDT (3pm local) and broadcast LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo.
TEAM
Reds to face Waratahs
1. Liz Patu – Wests
2. Averyl Mitchell – Souths
3. Christina Sekona – Sunnybank
4. Kiri Lingman (VC) – Easts
5. Shannon Mato – Easts
6. Natassja Purontakanen – University of Queensland
7. Lavinia Gould – Wests
8. Okeroa Manihera – Sunnybank
9. Ayane Hirata - Sunnybank
10. Zahara Temara - Helensvale
11. Lori Cramer (C) – University of Queensland
12. Hagiga Moseby* – University of Queensland
13. Alana Elisaia – Brothers
14. Ivania Wong – Sunnybank
15. Courtney Hodder – Sunnybank
Reserves
16. Ivy Kaleta – Easts
17. Bree-Anne Cheatham – Wests/ADF
18. Hilisha Samoa – GPS
19. Lesa Kaleti Mataafa - Sunnybank
20. Saxon Campbell – Souths
21. Gabby Senft – Bond University
22. Cobie-Jane Morgan – Bond University
23. Sarah Riordan – Wests/ADF
*denotes Queensland and Super W debut
