Kiwi favourite Mike Harris has the first crack at Quade Cooper's No.10 jersey but Wallabies tourist Ben Lucas will fight him all the way to Queensland's Super Rugby opener against New South Wales.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie will start the robust Harris at five-eighth in Saturday night's first trial against the Brumbies in Cairns, with utility back Lucas to replace him at halftime.
Since superstar Cooper ruptured knee ligaments at the World Cup in October, Harris has been seen as the natural replacement on the basis of his 2011 breakthrough at inside centre.
But Lucas has also impressed coaches in the pre-season and can fill the dual playmaking and goalkicking role by outpointing the former New Zealand under-20 representative in trials against the Brumbies and Western Force.
NZN