FIVE Queensland Reds will have a familiar feeling when James Slipper captains the team for the first time against the Chiefs tonight.
The tryscoring prop was captain of a star-studded First XV at The Southport School in 2007 which featured Ben Tapuai, Luke Morahan, Jono Lance, Jarrad Butler and Rob Simmons.
Unsurprisingly, that side won the GPS competition.
Those five players will again unite under Slipper's leadership tonight when the Reds face last year's Super Rugby premiers the Waikato Chiefs.
Slipper, 23, said it was a major surprise to be awarded the honour.
"I was actually in the car when Link (coaching director Ewen McKenzie) called me and then later I checked my voice mail and he was on there telling me that Kevvie (Horwill) is out and I'm captain," Slipper said.
"It was a shock. The captaincy is something that any rugby player aspires too.
"The only other team I captained was the First XV at The Southport School and it's funny cause quite a few of the guys in our team played in that side.
"I'm not much of a talker on the field. I try to lead by actions."
Tonight's trial sees the premiership winners of the past two years clash at Sunshine Coast's Stockland Stadium.
The Chiefs have picked their big guns for the game, including All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden.
Queensland beat a second-string Auckland Blues side 41-35 in Toowoomba last week, in a contest which was tighter than most predicted.
Combinations are the Reds' primary goal for the Sunshine Coast trial, with a number of positions up for grabs.
Mike Harris will start at inside centre after playing fullback last week, pushing Tapuai to outside centre to cover for Fainga'a. If Horwill is not fit for the first round, Slipper and Fainga'a are prime candidates to captain the team.
"I think Kev will be fine for round 1," Slipper said.
"There was a bit of concern when it first happened but since then it has become more positive and it seems likely he'll be available."
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