Queensland magician Quade Cooper has hinted he has a few more tricks up his sleeve as he savours a second chance to confront childhood idol Carlos Spencer.

Cooper will oppose former All Black five-eighth Spencer's winless Lions outfit on Sunday morning (AEST) in Johannesburg after producing his best-ever Super 14 game against the Sharks.

The Wallabies young gun scored a brilliant jinking try and set up three others in the Reds' 30-28 loss but isn't resting on his laurels with his improving team two points outside the top four.

Cooper, who turned 22 last week, grew up in New Zealand idolising Spencer and practising the chip kicks and no-look passes the mercurial playmaker perfected for the Blues and All Blacks.

The influence is such that Reds vice-captain and former Blues flanker Daniel Braid has often noted the uncanny similarities between the two.

Queensland don't expect their five-eighth to go to water against Spencer.

Cooper starred in his first chance to play against the wily 34-year-old, scoring 16 points in a mid-week game for the Wallabies against Gloucester on last year's Grand Slam tour.

It was almost as enjoyable as meeting his hero and swapping jerseys and stories after the 36-5 win.

"Carlos has been one of my idols since I was growing up. I remember having his poster on my bedroom wall," Cooper told AAP from Johannesburg.

"Nearly every kid in New Zealand (modelled themselves on Spencer). He had everything that you wanted in your game.

"He was the player that everyone went to watch because you knew something crazy or something out of his bag of tricks was going to happen.

"Hopefully I have added a few things to my game also that I can go to when we play against him."

It's hard to see room for any more surprises from Cooper in 2010 as he has made the most of the platform laid by the consistent Reds pack and Will Genia's crisp service.

So what else is there?

"A magician never reveals his tricks," he said. "I don't think there's any left after Carlos. He's stolen everything. He's got the knee kick and no-look passes.

"In 2003, everything he touched turn to gold. He passed the ball between his legs, he'd throw it without looking and everything he did there was someone there to grab it."

Although the Lions are conceding 45 points per game and are winless this season, the Reds are on guard for an ambush at Coca-Cola Park.

The home side is coming off a bye and put together an intimidating first half away to the Highlanders in their last match of a long tour in New Zealand before folding.

Coach Dick Muir has brought former skipper Wikus van Heerden back into the back-row in one of five changes to strengthen his team.

Queensland also haven't beaten the Lions since 2006 and last year's 31-20 upset loss still haunts the Reds.

"We're not taking them easy," Cooper said. "We know they will be a hard team to beat."

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