Teenager Ben Daley, the son of former Kangaroos and Manly league prop Phil, faces one of the most bruising Super 14 baptisms when he lines up at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

The 19-year-old prop has been thrust into an unexpected debut for Queensland against the table-topping Crusaders and a scrum showdown with veteran All Blacks tight-head Greg Somerville.

Somerville, 30, has 11 years, 57 Tests and 9kg on the rookie but an overjoyed Daley is excited rather than intimidated by what looms as a lop-sided front-row tussle.

The rising loose-head was picked on the bench following a one-week suspension to Rodney Blake and Greg Holmes' inability to make a quick return from knee surgery.

"It's a great opportunity and one I'm going to grab by the horns," the 109kg Daley said.

"I think it's exciting, you're playing against some of the best players in the world in seasoned All Blacks and it's a great thrill for me to be coming up against Greg Somerville."

Coach Phil Mooney admitted it was a massive assignment for Daley but was confident he'd rise to occasion.

"Ben's a guy who's generally up for a challenge and for a young guy, mentally he's in a good space," he said.

It's not the first time Daley, a member of Mooney's under-19 world championship winning Australian team in 2006, has made headlines.

The Gold Coaster has been creating big news since he was born, when father Phil left State of Origin camp in Brisbane in 1988 to be with wife Vicky for his birth and was subsequently sacked by NSW.

Twenty years on Ben is playing a different code for a different state but there's no animosity at all from the proud father.

"I played both until I was 16 but coming into year 12 with the extra study I focussed on union," Ben said.

"Coming from a league background I've always tried to be a mobile front-rower."

Daley will have to be at his mobile best to retain his place for the Reds final round grudge match against NSW.

"You expect (Blake) to be thrust back into the side next week but you have to rip and tear to do what you can."

The Reds weren't the only team disappointed by Blake's dangerous tackle ban - the Crusaders forwards were looking forward to a showdown between "Rodzilla" and their loose-head prop Wyatt Crockett.

"No disrespect to Rodney but the boys like to call Wyatt `Crock-zilla' and there'd been a lot of banter about Crock-zilla versus Rodzilla before the suspension," said Crusaders media man Matt McIlraith.

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