Troubled Wallabies back Quade Cooper will return to Queensland training on Thursday aware he may lose his Reds No.10 jersey even if cleared to start the Super 14 season.

Cooper, arrested on the Gold Coast last month on a burglary charge, makes his first pre-season appearance at Ballymore after undergoing a knee operation following his breakthrough Wallabies tour of the UK.

While allowed to train, his arrest in the early hours of December 6 and subsequent court appearance has placed a cloud over his playing future.

Cooper has been ordered to undergo an extensive personal development and counselling program before being considered for selection by the Queensland and Australia.

The mercurial inside back has met several times with new Reds coach Ewen McKenzie since the mysterious incident, while court proceedings have been adjourned until July.

McKenzie on Wednesday said he'd been particularly impressed with the 21-year-old's rugby intellect and indicated he was being consulted as one of his senior players.

If Cooper is cleared by the ARU and QRU to return to start the season, he'll likely be available for the Reds last of three trial matches, against the Western Force on February 5.

"He's good to get back into (training)," McKenzie told AAP.

"I've met with him a few times and obviously we've dealt with all the issues as much as we can but we've largely talked about what we (the Reds) are doing here and I've enjoyed the discussions."

But McKenzie is seriously considering giving the versatile Ben Lucas the chief playmaking duties and playing Cooper at inside centre where he impressed for Australia outside Matt Giteau in all four grand slam tour Tests.

"What we've seen is that Quade has added to his versatility," he said. "He's the incumbent (Test) 12 (inside centre) and we have to work out what's best for us and these trials are important for people to show what they've got."

"Ben Lucas has played a lot at nine for the Reds but he will give him a crack at 10 (five eighth) to see what he offers.

"He's played most of his rugby there ... and we think he's got a future."

With Wallabies halfback Will Genia cemented at Queensland's scrum-base, Lucas's fine goalkicking and playmaking skills are helping his cause to gain a start somewhere in the Reds backline.

He has also been thrown up as a potential replacement for Mark McLinden at fullback, where young speedster Luke Morahan is another contender.

Former Melbourne Storm three-quarter Will Chambers has been running mainly on the wing in training but is being viewed as a potential outside centre as well as wing.

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