Queensland coach Phil Mooney expects the Stormers to throw caution to the wind and play inspirational captain Jean de Villiers in Saturday's (AEDT) Super 14 clash in Cape Town.

De Villiers has been in doubt all week due to whiplash suffered in a neck injury which forced him to be stretchered off Absa Stadium in their 20-15 season-opening loss to the Sharks.

The 2008 Springboks player of the year will undergo a late fitness test to decide whether he'll line up at inside centre against the youthful Reds at Newlands.

But Mooney, who rates de Villiers along with Stirling Mortlock as among the best centres in the game, is convinced the desperate Stormers will include him in their midfield, especially due to the effect of his absence against the Sharks.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus admitted his team, leading 10-0 when he was injured late in the first half, suffered a "confidence dent" without their 46-Test skipper.

"We're just planning and preparing as though he'll play," Mooney told AAP on Thursday night.

"You can bring in a replacement player who will be (a good player) but there's the run-of-the-mill Super 14 player and then there's Jean de Villiers so he is pretty influential.

"I think he's outstanding. He started his international career as a winger and was skillful enough to move to the midfield and he's played at the highest level there as well.

"Guys like Stirling Mortlock and Jean de Villiers are great players because they play quality rugby in multiple positions."

Much of the responsibility in stopping de Villiers lays on the broad shoulders of interim Reds skipper Berrick Barnes who will oppose him at No.12.

Still on the comeback trail from a knee injury, Barnes was rusty in the 33-20 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria, struggling with his timing in attack.

But Mooney expects a natural improvement and praised his leadership in regrouping from a missed opportunity on Sunday.

"He'll be better tomorrow and then better again after that," Mooney said. "The thing that most pleases me is the way he's led the side over here.

"Yesterday's training session was the best we've had over here and that's testament to the way Berrick and Quade (Cooper) and Daniel Braid have led the guys."

Braid's breakdown battle with Springbok flanker Schalk Burger will be a key to the Reds' chances after they surrendered too much ball to the Bulls counter-rucking.

Raw-boned lock Adam Byrnes has been warned for his reckless second-half cleanout which saw him sin-binned and the Reds punished on the scoreboard.

It blotted the former Waratah forward's copybook on the night, as the Reds coaches were impressed by his physicality but require him to strike the right balance in aggression and discipline.

"It's a key position physically and you need to assert yourself but it's a fine line and Adam has to find the right balance," Mooney said.

The Reds have bolstered their tight-five work-rate by calling up Sydney University recruit Laurie Weeks, who has earned good wraps from former English World Cup prop Trevor Woodman, for his first start after a promising debut off the bench.

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