If things could get any worse for Queensland after a painful 23-16 defeat to the Highlanders they did when Wendell Sailor was cited for head-butting.

Sailor is in extreme danger of missing the Reds' two-week South African tour after being cited twice following a heated second-half exchange with flanker Josh Blackie.

The Reds winger will face a SANZAR tribunal in Brisbane to answer charges of striking with a fist and striking with the head.

Sailor was penalised for the 60th minute incident when his head made contact with Blackie's face before then lashing out with his forearm.

Blackie, a two-try star performer for the Highlanders, took umbrage at the contact and gestured to touch judge Craig Joubert.

"I was just having a yarn and he got a bit fired up," Blackie said after the mistake-riddled game.

"You can't go doing that.

"It will be interesting to see what happens."

Sailor's citing forces him to miss Queensland's morning flight to South Africa where they play the Stormers and the Bulls in successive weeks.

Ironically, Sailor was treated more harshly for his failed effort to trip elusive fullback Ben Blair in the 66th minute, spending 10 minutes in the sin bin.

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