Queensland coach Phil Mooney has laid out the welcome mat for NSW counterpart Ewen McKenzie to gamble on big-name recruit Timana Tahu at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

McKenzie will on Thursday announce his Waratahs team for their must-win last-round Super 14 match against the Reds amid speculation Tahu will be selected at outside centre.

Mooney expects the former NSW and Australia league winger to be thrust into that key role and didn't hide his view the move could backfire on the under-pressure visitors.

Tahu has never started at No.13 - widely regarded as the most difficult position defensively - in Super 14 despite being signed as a prospective outside centre.

After some time playing there in the pre-season, Tahu was picked on the wing by McKenzie at the start of the competition before being grounded by hamstring problems.

The 27-year-old made his return for the Waratahs off the bench in the 13-all drew against the Stormers in Cape Town, playing in both positions.

Tahu may not start at outside centre but the Reds believe he will certainly play there at some point.

Mooney, who also expects to see Lote Tuqiri move back to the wing from fullback, said it was a big ask for Tahu and promised Queensland would test him out as a potential weak link in defence.

"I think he brings a lot of strengths there but he also brings some potential areas to exploit as well," Mooney said.

"We have a high amount of respect for him but there's got be some areas we can test him on.

"We've been reasonably success exploiting some different areas (in the backline) so we've got some good options there."

Picking Tahu at outside centre adds an extra dimension to the clash for the in-form Morgan Turinui who left NSW for the Reds when McKenzie signed up the Parramatta three-quarter.

"That's a team he (Turinui) played all his junior and senior football for and I'm sure there's a little bit extra motivation for him there," said Mooney"

"He's been very good for the last period of time so that (NSW's decision) has been good for us."

Turinui admitted his motivation was to score a win for Queensland rather than knocking his old side out of the play-offs.

For a change, he's looking forward to Friday's annual Vintage Reds luncheon, which the Waratahs will snub, and listening to "the ex-Queenslanders throw their barbs" at NSW.

Queensland's swansong crew grew on Wednesday with veteran Wallabies halfback Sam Cordingley winning his fitness battle with a lingering calf muscle injury to make a farewell appearance off the bench.

"It's justice he gets one last crack," Mooney said of Cordingley whose injury has seen him slip in Test reckoning.

France-bound Cordingley will join the retiring David Croft, Brumbies-bound Stephen Moore in playing their last games for the Reds. Rodney Blake, Clinton Schifcofske and possibly Turinui may also be heading overseas.

Blake is back on the bench from suspension with winger Caleb Brown who replaces suspended Digby Ioane.

Queensland Reds: Clinton Schifcofske, Brando Va'aulu, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, David Croft, Poutasi Luafutu, James Horwill (c), Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Stephen Moore, Ben Coutts. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, Scott Higginbotham, Sam Cordingley, Charlie Fetoai, Caleb Brown.

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