Ewen McKenzie has turned innovator in a bid to reverse Queensland's Super 14 fortunes, highlighted by skipper James Horwill's positional switch in a monster pack tailor-made to oppose NSW.

Former NSW coach McKenzie has immediately made his mark as Reds coach by sticking with a bold pre-season experiment to play Wallabies lock Horwill in the back-row in Saturday night's interstate grudge match.

The move gives Queensland four genuine lineout options and six 112kg-plus forwards to combat NSW's feted pack at Suncorp Stadium.

"We know we need to take it to them physically otherwise they are a very good side and will get on top of you if you don't take it to them physically and dictate terms," said 115kg Horwill.

"We need to make sure you stick it to them first before they do it to us."

Horwill and McKenzie suggested Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom had little to worry about in competition for his Test No.6 jersey, hinting the move may be a one-off, designed to combat the Waratahs' Test-strength back-row of Phil Waugh, Wycliff Palu and Dean Mumm.

Horwill didn't have a perfect audition in the 31-12 trial loss to the Western Force last week.

However, the Force's ability to continually recycle the ball under new refereeing interpretations favouring the attacking side has shown the importance of winning set piece possession.

"I think it's a logical way for us to play," McKenzie said on Thursday.

"We're going out there playing against one of the best forward packs in the comp and we have to go out there with the right tools to get the job done

"The game this year is about having a very good competitive set piece and making sure you control possession.

"We've been trying to be creative with the group we've got.

"There's no point going out there and doing the same thing we did last year, the year before and the last six years.

"We have to try something different and the game is about little pieces of innovation."

McKenzie also surprised by selecting Morgan Turinui at outside centre and moving strike weapon Digby Ioane to the left wing, where he will have a licence to roam.

No place could be found for Wallabies tourist Luke Morahan, an impressive triallist, with Rod Davies preferred on the right wing.

Turinui missed the entire 2009 season due to a shoulder reconstruction but his experience and communication skills have won him a berth ahead of Melbourne Storm recruit Will Chambers.

Chambers is on the bench along with three Reds Academy duo James Slipper and Andrew Shaw, and uncontracted veteran playmaker Tim Walsh.

In a measure of his meteoric rise, Test halfback Will Genia was named vice-captain while another emerging young leader, Ben Daley, beat prop Greg Holmes to the No.1 jersey.

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