Queensland and Wallaby prop Greg Holmes could miss the remainder of the Super 14 season following knee surgery.

Holmes has had a loose bone fragment in his knee removed and will miss at least 3-4 weeks.

"It's bad luck for Holmesy, who'd been playing extremely well for us," Reds coach Phil Mooney said.

"He felt some pain in the knee after our last match in South Africa and when we had the scans done they found quite a large bone fragment that had to be removed."

Holmes missed most of last year's Super 14 with a shoulder injury before playing two pool matches for Australia at the Rugby World Cup in France.

The injury-hit Reds have already lost star fullback Chris Latham (knee) and backrower Hugh McMeniman (ankle) to long term injuries, while halfback Sam Cordingley remains in doubt with a calf problem for this week's derby with the Western Force in Brisbane.

"Whoever we name in the side will be up for it," Mooney said.

"This is a big match for us, our first back at home after a month in South Africa and a chance for guys to press their representative claims."

Mooney expects to name his side Tuesday.

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