Battered black and blue, the Queensland Reds are counting the cost of their rare win over NSW, ruling out four players for Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes - including winger Rod Davies for two months.

Ladder leaders Queensland are set to be tested in Wellington after losing backs Davies (knee) and Digby Ioane (facial fracture) as well as props James Slipper (collarbone) and Ben Daley (nose).

Davies has undergone surgery for knee ligament damage and will be out for eight weeks but the remainder are expected to be considered again after the Hurricanes showdown.

Despite enjoying a record seven-match winning streak culminating in their first victory over the Waratahs in seven years last weekend, Queensland will be tested against the underperforming Hurricanes due to the injuries.

But Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was confident that he had the depth to cover the blow to their prop and outside back stocks.

"We have taken a bit of a beating in those two positions," said McKenzie.

"But Rocket (Davies) is the long term one.

"He is having surgery today on a ligament injury so he will be out for eight weeks.

"The others we will get them back short term.

"It just means we will dig into our depth and give guys a go."

Slipper missed the Reds' gutsy 19-15 win over NSW last weekend, while Daley required surgery on Sunday after having his nose badly broken in a tackle.

Ioane was believed to have only suffered a facial laceration but scans revealed a hairline fracture.

"He's not bad but not good enough to get on an aeroplane," McKenzie said of Ioane.

"Daley has had an operation on his nose and as much as he would like to play our medical advice is to not play this weekend and let it settle.

"And Slipper won't be right this week, he is coming along well but not good enough.

"We will treat it as a chance for those guys to catch their breath and give other guys a go."

On paper, Saturday night's clash between the high-flying Reds and the Hurricanes (2-1-6, win-draw-loss record) looks like a David-v-Goliath showdown.

But McKenzie was taking no chances after staying up to watch the Hurricanes' last round 40-24 loss to the Sharks in Durban on TV.

"I think everyone might look at the ladder position and make some assumptions," McKenzie said.

"In the end though I see a team that has a bunch of All Blacks dispersed amongst them - those guys will want to go well for the team but also the World Cup is ahead, they will want to put their best foot forward.

"They are coming home from South Africa, we know what it is like - it is quite easy to get back and do well in front of your home crowd.

"And they will be frustrated. They did a good job against the Sharks on the weekend - they led with 10 minutes to go.

"I see them as a side that is unlucky.

"Those types of teams, once they get a win they get a lot of confidence - we have to make sure it is not against us."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP