Reds coach Ewen McKenzie won't pigeon-hole Digby Ioane but the Queensland strike weapon would love to show he could be Australia's new Stirling Mortlock at outside centre.

Wallabies winger Ioane made an ultra-impressive return from shoulder surgery in Queensland's 42-15 Super rugby trial win over the Crusaders on the weekend in a destructive display which further excited him about playing more at No.13.

The 25-year-old was already desperate to show his wares in the midfield this year after watching a tape of former Wallabies skipper Mortlock in action in the Brumbies' 2000 Super 12 final loss to the Crusaders.

"He was around 24 and I couldn't believe the work-rate and him breaking lines and making all these tackles," Ioane told AAP.

"It was one of the best games I've seen him play.

"He ripped it. It was like he was fighting off spiders, people were just falling off him.

"You see something like that and you want to do that and improve."

McKenzie, like Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, has used Ioane at both wing and outside centre in the past and has indicated he'll likely give him time at both again in a flexible Reds backline in 2011.

League convert Will Chambers made a name for himself at No.13 as Queensland surged to fifth last season but also made a good fist of a move to inside centre against the Crusaders in Cairns.

Mortlock has made a comeback of his own with the Melbourne Rebels but his 2009 injury troubles left a massive void for the Wallabies.

NSW's Rob Horne partially filled it last year before elbow surgery allowed Adam Ashley-Cooper to put a down payment on the No.13 jersey for this year's World Cup.

After two injury-riddled years of his own, Ioane admitted he will be happy to play wherever McKenzie chooses but would love the challenge to his skill set in the midfield.

"I really don't mind, I just want to play," he said. "(But) 13 is a spot where I'd like to have a go and learn more, and play with more skills.

"It's exciting to be back playing with your mates rather than sitting at home being frustrated."

The silver lining from Ioane's shoulder injury, which restricted him to just three Tests last year, is the fact it's given him extra time to help manage a chronic knee problem through an altered training regime.

"This year the staff has been a lot smarter, and I have to be smart and look after it," he said, adding he had been told to put a stop to his "secret" training sessions.

"I'll just save it for the game, for the main event."

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