Battle-scarred Queensland have punted on unheralded ex-basketballer Jake Schatz as they attempt to bounce back from their devastating opening round Super 14 loss to NSW.

Schatz, 19, will receive a baptism of fire against the Dan Carter-piloted Crusaders in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium after the Reds were hit by injuries to their two most experienced forwards.

Hooker Sean Hardman (ankle) and lock Van Humphries (head knock) were victims of Saturday's highly-physical 30-28 loss to the Waratahs in a major blow to Queensland's hopes of a round two upset.

Coach Ewen McKenzie has been forced to reshuffle his pack with skipper James Horwill moving back to lock and Schatz chosen ahead of the more experienced Ezra Taylor and Lei Tomiki at blind-side flanker.

A huge George Smith fan, the Churchie product grew up playing both rugby and basketball, representing Queensland in both as a junior, before choosing the 15-man code at 16.

"You have to choose one way or the other and I've always enjoyed rugby," the 190cm, 105kg tyro said. "When I was 16 it could have gone either way. I still enjoy having a shoot around."

Saia Faingaa replaces Hardman, who may return for the Reds third straight home game against the Blues, to start for the first time in his two seasons at the Reds.

While the Crusaders, 32-17 winners over the Highlanders, made just one change to their bench, McKenzie dumped three reserve forwards after they failed to fire as the Reds capitulated against NSW.

McKenzie likes what he sees in Australian Schoolboys and Australian Under-20s back-rower Schatz, who captained club team Sunnybank at 18 last year and impressed in all three pre-season trials.

"He's still young in age but he's shown a maturity during the off-season," McKenzie said. "He's a very cool, very calm player, very disciplined.

"I like the attention to detail. He's not a guy where you have to tell him twice."

"It is a different style of game against the Crusaders. They move the ball around so you need guys who can operate in open space and make the right decisions. I think he fits the bill very well."

McKenzie has also picked Leroy Houston, who returns from injury on the bench with Greg Holmes.

Houston has shed 12kg but remains a line-breaking back-rower.

"The Crusaders are the sort of team you have to go through," McKenzie said.

"You don't run around the Crusaders, you have to bend the line and we think a player like a Houston with his ball-running might be able to give us something in that space when people get tired."

The Reds beat the Crusaders, minus their All Blacks, in the pre-season and coach Todd Blackadder is on guard for a "raw, hungry and dangerous" home side.

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