In an ominous warning to the injury-ravaged Melbourne Rebels, Queensland skipper Will Genia has declared the hamstrung Reds are determined to revive the razzle-dazzle on Friday night.

Queensland, the exciting surprise-packets of last year's Super 14, have looked a shadow of that attacking outfit thus far in 2011, scoring just three tries from three matches.

But Genia denied the Reds had turned conservative or cautious, believing they are ready to break the shackles and show their signature flair against the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium.

"We always go out there with the intent of having a run and playing an expansive style of footy so hopefully we can do that better this week," the Wallabies halfback told AAP.

"We have every confidence in each other's ability to do that and that's our game style.

"We showed that last year and we want to be better than that this year and we're striving to improve on that."

Despite being outscored four tries to one in a 31-25 last-start win over the Brumbies, Genia was delighted by the Reds' improved breakdown prowess, providing quicker recycled ball for himself and Quade Cooper.

The match situation and tactics in Canberra led to the Reds playing a calculated field position game, which resulted in seven Cooper penalty goals, but they will like their chances of overrunning the fledgling Rebels.

"We would like to score more tries, we've only scored three tries and we want to improve that, but at the same time we have to be smart in the way we play," Genia said.

The Rebels have quickly overcome an opening round 43-0 thumping by NSW and went close to producing the upset of the season before letting the Sharks off the hook with a 34-32 loss last weekend.

But the absence of influential fullback Mark Gerrard and key flanker Michael Lipman, joining a growing injury list, provides a massive mountain to climb in Brisbane.

Julian Huxley's move back to his favourite role at No.15 has seen centre Stirling Mortlock pushed closer to the action at inside centre, suggesting Melbourne will play a more direct, physical game than that which surprised the Sharks.

"We started to enjoy ourselves last week and put into practice some of the things that we've been training for," Huxley said.

"It shocked a few people and didn't have much semblance to the first few weeks of our play in the competition, but we'll see what happens with our tactics."

Huxley, who played for Queensland from 2003 to 2006, won't mind if the game is a dour contest like the last time he returned to play his old side at Suncorp Stadium.

The former Wallabies utility kicked the match-winning penalty in 2007 for a 6-3 Brumbies win in the lowest scoring game ever played in Super Rugby.

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