Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie has offered a word of caution amid the push for Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom to fill the void left by Wycliff Palu at No.8.

In doing so he has boosted the case of much-improved Reds forward Leroy Houston, a player in the same bulldozing mould as the sidelined Palu.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is facing a major selection issue in deciding how to replace Palu at the back of the Australian scrum after his season-ending knee injury.

Elsom, a specialist blind-side flanker who played No.8 for Munster in 2008-09, has been seen as a strong option ahead of Richard Brown of the Western Force and Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles.

Brown and Hoiles are both smaller, more mobile men than Elsom and Palu who are tackle-busting ball-carriers.

Houston fits the same bill, even after losing 13kg to be down to 108kg this season, and has highlighted his much improved fitness by lasting 80 minutes in Queensland's fast-paced 17-12 win over the Bulls.

McKenzie said the 2005 Wallabies tourist was improving each week after starting the season on the bench to give the Reds' surety and impact off the back of the scrum.

He highlighted the importance of having a specialist No.8 picking up the ball as crucial if Australia's scrum wasn't a dominant set-piece.

"No.8 is not a position you can fudge easily," McKenzie said. "You have to get the right skills in the right spot.

"The skill set there when the scrum is going forward is not so complicated but ... when you are under the pressure that's when your skills really come to the fore and Leroy is an established No.8.

"The scrum, while there is not as many as there used to be, they're quite important in terms of momentum in the game.

"Crucial scrums near the goal line, under pressure or in attack, they are critical moments where you can exert pressure or dissipate the pressure."

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, who has moved Ben Mowen to No.8 to play the Brumbies on Saturday night, agreed: "Cliffy is hard to replace, as we're finding out.

"It's not an easy job taking the ball at the back of the scrum, particularly when you are under pressure."

Houston was called into Australia's 2005 tour squad of Europe at 18 but never played a Test and hasn't gone closer since after being axed by the Waratahs a year later.

But he's greatly improved his handling and fitness this year to play a key role with the fourth-placed Reds, who meet the third-placed Stormers on Friday night.

"He's probably a good barometer (of Queensland's improvement in 2010)," McKenzie said. "He's just starting to find form, every week his game's been better and I thought his ball carries last week were the best of the season."

Among a forward pack of quiet achievers, Houston is not allowing the Reds' success go to his head.

"I'm lasting the 80 minutes and getting around the field a lot better but hopefully I can start breaking a few more tackles," he said. "At the moment I'm just playing for the team and helping get the boys on the front foot."

McKenzie on Wednesday recalled Adam Byrnes to the Reds second-row to replace Van Humphries (ankle) while winger Luke Morahan is on stand-by for Rod Davies (hamstring tightness).

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