The Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific home finals hopes have all but evaporated in a crushing homecoming for fallen Wallabies star Suliasi Vunivalu.
Vunivalu was sent off following two trips that cost the Reds dearly in a 28-19 loss to Fijian Drua in Suva.
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Saturday's defeat left Queensland in fifth spot, eight competition points behind the fourth-placed Brumbies with two rounds remaining.
The Brumbies can put a top-four finish - and home playoff - officially out of the Reds' reach if they beat struggling defending champions the Crusaders in Canberra later on Saturday.
Vunivalu could not have envisaged such a nightmare return to his native Fiji after leaving his side a player short for 30 minutes of the game.
His first leg trip on Drua flanker Kitiona Salawa left Australian referee Angus Gardner with no alternative than to award the home team a fourth-minute penalty try.
With Vunivalu in the sin bin, hooker Tevita Ikanivere also stormed over to earn the Drua a 10-0 lead inside eight minutes.
The Reds hit back with nice replies from winger Floyd Aubrey and flyhalf Lawson Creighton to only trail 15-14 at halftime.
But Vunivalu's dismissal shortly after the break proved the tipping point.
This time he stuck a rogue leg out that caught his Fiji opposite Selestino Ravutaumada in the lead-up to Ikanivere's second try of the day.
Down by 11 points and to 14 men, not even the introduction of veteran former Wallabies star James O'Connor could save the Reds.
The Reds further shot themselves in the foot with wayward lineout throws and ill-disciplined penalties as the eighth-placed Drua all but shored up their own finals spot.
They briefly had hope of snatching victory from the jaws of the defeat after a 77th-minute driving maul try to replacement forward George Blake.
Instead, the Reds were denied even a precious bonus point through a last-gasp Drua penalty goal from Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula that stretched the winning margin beyond seven points.
DRUA (1-15): Jone Koroiduadua, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Epeli Momo, Waqa Nalaga, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese
RESERVES: Mesulame Dolokoto, Emosi Tuqiri, Samu Tawake, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Vilive Miramira, Peni Matawalu, Kemu Valetini, Taniela Rakuro
REDS (1-15): Peni Ravai, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Cormac Daly, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, John Bryant, Tate McDermott (co-c), Lawson Creighton, Floyd Aubrey, Hunter Paisami, Taj Annan, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell
RESERVES: George Blake, Sef Fa'agase, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Seru Uru, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, James O'Connor, Tim Ryan
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jeremy Markey
The Drua's clash with the Reds will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 11:50 am with kickoff expected at 12:05 pm.
