The Reds have waved away suggestions their side are title contenders ahead of Queensland's Round 5 clash, saying all eyes are fixed on their derby against Western Force.
The second game of Saturday's Super Rugby double-header at HBF Park looms a banana-skin game for Les Kiss' outfit with Simon Cron's winless Force desperate for a breakthrough in 2024.
Click here to see all the Round 5 Super Rugby Pacific team news. “Our analysis of the Force shows they are playing periods of really good rugby. We played and lost to them in a trial at Ballymore six weeks ago so we know how tough an opponent they will be on their home ground," Kiss said.
“We have to concentrate on our own game to keep our standards high.
"We know we put ourselves under pressure against the Rebels in the second half last game so there have been areas of our game to work on."
While the third-placed Reds are undoubtedly favoured to topple the Force this weekend, assistant coach Zane Hilton believes his side will pay the price if they fail to respect all opponents equally.
"Being talked about as contenders is probably a bit of a stretch, let's be perfectly honest. We're only Round 4 and we've won one game on the road," Hilton told media on Monday.
"You’ve got to respect the competition. If you don’t’ respect the competition itself, it has the tendency to really hurt you so we’ve just got to treat every game as it is at the moment, respect that, and go back to work every Monday and just continue to get better."
In other changes to the Reds lineup, Tom Lynagh reclaims the #10 jersey from Harry McLaughlin Phillips while Hunter Paisami and Taj Annan rejoin the matchday squad.
Paisami is a straight swap for the injured Isaac Henry (knee) while Taj Annan replaces Jordan Petaia (HIA protocol).
REDS (1-15): Peni Ravai, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Taj Annan
