League convert Will Chambers failed to inspire but the Queensland Reds still warmed the hearts of their hardy supporters with a 20-12 trial win over the Crusaders on Friday night.

Chambers, signed from NRL premiers Melbourne Storm, looked all at sea at Ballymore as he struggled to cope with the challenging defensive demands of outside centre.

The 21-year-old was given an hour by coach Ewen McKenzie in the two-tries-all win but gained limited chances with the ball to redeem a number of glaring misreads in defence.

With just one more trial left, against the Western Force next Friday, before the Super 14 kicks off, Chambers' hopes of starting against the NSW Waratahs, at centre or wing, on February 13 look bleak.

It was young stand-in skipper and loose-head prop Ben Daley who was the star for the home side, scoring two tries in nine minutes midway through the first half.

Daley, continuing to add pressure to former Wallabies front-rower Greg Holmes' starting hopes, was also a key plank in a dominant first-half scrummaging display.

Wallabies winger Peter Hynes, outstanding at fullback, combined with young speedster Luke Morahan to lay on Daley's first try while the 21-year-old scored his second from a clinical driving maul.

The Crusaders came back late in the game when centre Robert Fruean crossed as otherwise impressive No.8 Scott Higginbotham came out of the defensive line.

But Wallabies halfback Will Genia came off the bench to add composure to the Reds who were also helped when Crusaders forward Peter Borlase was yellow-carded.

The win in slippery conditions in front of a crowd of 5,827 gives the perennial Super 14 battles two straight pre-season victories following last weekend's 26-24 triumph over NSW.

But the match provided little to assist new coach Ewen McKenzie with his five-eighth dilemma as starting No.10 Ben Lucas, who kicked three from three with the boot, was rested at halftime after hurting his shoulder in an unconvincing first half.

Veteran replacement Tim Walsh also kicked a key penalty but was found out in defence.

In their first trial, the Crusaders scored after just six minutes through rampaging No.8 Thomas Waldrom and dominated territory and possession for most of the first half.

But it was the Reds who made the most of their chances to grab a 17-5 lead at halftime while the New Zealanders pushed their passes and let the ball slip on a balmy Brisbane evening.

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