Super 14 surprise-packets Queensland face a halfback crisis as they attempt to build on their landmark upset of the Springbok-studded Sharks.

As much pleasure the Reds' 25-13 Suncorp Stadium boilover brought on Saturday night, there was also some pain and concern for the competition's battling entertainers.

First-choice halfback Ben Lucas faces a possible four weeks out with a rib cartilage injury while in-form replacement Will Genia has been cited for a dangerous tackle.

Genia will front a SANZAR judicial hearing on Tuesday night after a spearing Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel into the turf in the second half.

The up-ending tackle was similar to George Gregan's controversial driving effort on Highlander Richard Kahui in 2006 which earned the Wallabies skipper a one-match ban.

The Reds are likely to draw on Gregan's tackle to mount their defence of the similarly-sized Genia, who played a major attacking role in downing the Sharks.

If he is found guilty, the Reds will be forced to call on Queensland Academy half Brendan McKibbin and use stand-in skipper Berrick Barnes as back-up No.9.

The nippy McKibbin was the 2008 player of the Brisbane club competition and spent an eight-match stint with English club Saracens late last year after the Reds development tour of Europe.

While Lucas's injury normally means three-to-four weeks on the sidelines, Reds coach Phil Mooney hasn't given up hope of his first-choice goalkicker making a speedy recovery to play the Chiefs after next week's bye.

There are also injury clouds hovering over five-eighth Quade Cooper (knee) and forward Ezra Taylor (shoulder) but both should be right to play the home game on March 27, which will also see the return of captain James Horwill and prop Greg Holmes.

Twenty-year-old rookie Ben Daley excelled in Holmes' absence as the Reds completely outmuscled the previously-unbeaten Sharks.

A high-risk attacking game has stamped the Reds as the thrill-seekers of the competition but their defence has pleased Mooney most.

The 10th-placed side have conceded just three tries in three games - including two from kicks - after the Sharks crossed just once through an opportunistic second-half effort by Ryan Kankowski which brought the scoreline to 18-13.

"To me, defence is a real indicator of spirit in the side and we are turning into a really aggressive, defensive side," Mooney said.

Rival coach John Plumtree, who lost playmaker Ryan Pienaar (knee) for a month, praised the Reds' style and execution but, tellingly, said the challenge lay in finding some consistency.

Barnes also felt the proof of the pudding would come in the ensuing month with matches against the Chiefs, Force, Highlanders and Lions.

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves for sure," said Barnes. "We saw last year in the same game we knocked the Bulls off (40-8) and from there we really didn't take it and go from there."

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