The Reds will miss Saia Faingaa for their trial match against the Auckland ... - NEWS.com.au

The Reds will miss Saia Faingaa for their trial match against the Auckland Blues. Picture: David Kapernick Source: The Courier-Mail

AN INJURY to key forward Saia Faingaa has handed Queensland a setback before their first Super Rugby trial against Auckland in Toowoomba tonight.

Faingaa, who had an injury-plagued 2012, pulled up sore at training yesterday but the Reds said it was a short-term problem and they hoped he would be fit for their second trial next Friday night.

Faingaa's injury is believed to be wear and tear and the Reds are being cautious as the hooker will be vital for them this year.

The Reds tonight face an Auckland Blues team missing all their key players, including All Blacks Piri Weepu, Ali Williams and Rene Ranger, while Reds coaching director Ewen McKenzie has named a Wallaby-laced line-up.

The Reds midfield is an all-Wallabies line-up of Quade Cooper, Ben Tapuai and debut captain Anthony Faingaa.

It will be the only trial for electric flyhalf Cooper, who has not played since the Wallabies' narrow win over Argentina on the Gold Coast on September 15.

Cooper will make his professional boxing debut next Friday night when his teammates will be on the Sunshine Coast battling the Chiefs in their final trial.

The following week the Reds travel to Canberra to play ACT Brumbies, the team they just edged for the Australian conference title last season.

Cooper is relaxed as always and has no concerns over playing a solitary trial.

"This is really just about building combinations," Cooper said.

"We have to put what we have been doing on the park into practice for real. We have been practising for a long time and now we need to show we can do it for real."

McKenzie said this trial would not rule anyone in or out for round 1.

"We will see everyone in the next two weeks," he said.

"In the next trial there will be a bunch of guys coming back from injury. Playing one trial will be quite common.

"We are putting guys around Quade to look at those combinations under pressure."

The Blues' starting XV features nine uncapped players. Flanker Luke Braid, the brother of former Reds standout Daniel, will captain the side in the absence of Williams.

The Reds will use the game to settle on fullback and key backrow positions.

It appears inevitable that Ben Lucas will start round 1 against the Brumbies at halfback while tonight's midfield will also be retained.

The Reds are anticipating a crowd around 5000 at Toowoomba Sports Ground.