Ex-Bronco Rod Davies will get an instant test of his redeveloped rugby instincts when he's thrown into his Queensland debut against the Super 14's most destructive winger.

Davies will mark tackle-shedding Chiefs flyer Lelia Masaga at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night after Wallabies winger Peter Hynes underwent knee surgery on Thursday.

Hynes' knee locked up at training late on Wednesday and was immediately booked in for an arthroscope on Thursday morning which should see him sidelined for two weeks.

The in-form Australian winger's blow was compounded by Brando Va'aulu suffering a hamstring strain in his return from a groin injury.

But it presents a major opportunity for Davies who returned to the code this year after two largely fruitless seasons with the Brisbane Broncos.

The 20-year-old endured a frustrating time in league due to injuries which never allowed him to push for an NRL berth but he has no regrets despite initially leaving rugby as one of the most promising juniors in the game.

Davies was an electrifying fullback in the highly-successful 2006 Australian Schoolboys team which also featured Reds teammate Quade Cooper and NSW's Kurtley Beale.

"You kind of think about (whether it was the right move) here and there," he admitted. "It's taken me a bit longer to get back into rugby than I thought this year but the Broncs were great

"I probably won't regret it all, Wayne (Bennett) was great to me.

"Two years in league really helped me with my toughness.

"And to be around guys like Darren Lockyer and Karmichael Hunt, you learn a lot from them."

Davies and fellow league convert Mark McLinden have fed off each other in their pre-season transition with the older fullback setting a fine path to follow in his first five Super 14 games.

"The transition from league is not as easy as it's made out to be," he said. "I was starting to get back into league (last year) and the instincts were starting to click in.

"Now in union I still have to think about it a bit."

Coach Phil Mooney gave Davies his vote of confidence following a two-try performance for Queensland Academy against the Junior Waratahs, opting to move him onto the wing and keeping Digby Ioane at centre instead of a backline reshuffle.

The Rockhampton-born back is unfazed about opposing Masaga who, with Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina, is a key part of the dangerous Chiefs backline.

"Every winger is the comp is pretty good no matter what team you're playing against," Davies said.

"I've dreamt this for a while, so it comes as a surprise, but I'm just going to take it and run with it."

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