Rookie Queensland Reds front-rower Albert Anae is determined to relish an emotional Super Rugby debut on Saturday night when he plays for his late father Sio in Wellington.

Anae, 21, will dedicate his first Queensland cap against the injury-hit Hurricanes to Sio who passed away four weeks ago after coming out of a coma from a diabetes-related illness.

The match at Westpac Stadium will be played out close to where Wellington-born Anae started his career - being ridden to Upper Hutt Under-6s matches in the basket of his father's pushbike.

"This one is definitely for him," Anae told AAP.

"The reason why I'm playing to start with is due to him.

"When I was young we didn't have a car and he put me on the basket of his bike and I'd sit there and he would ride me to games.

"I just wish he was here to see it."

Anae was heartened by the support he received from his team-mates and Queensland Rugby Union staff after Sio died just before the Reds' 30-25 win over the Lions in South Africa.

"It was really touching and straight after the service I was straight back into training," he said.

The 2009 Australian under-20 loose-head, who also doubles as the Reds' third-string hooker, gets his chance with Wallabies props Ben Daley (broken nose) and James Slipper (collarbone) both injured.

Anae is set to come off the bench behind Greg Holmes and Guy Shepherdson as coach Ewen McKenzie on Thursday delayed naming his starting team, instead opting to select a 23-man travel squad.

Despite the injury-forced call-up, McKenzie has been impressed by Anae's commitment and was pleased to see the youngster get his chance after a tough time.

"He's a real squad man, he's very professional operator and very team oriented," said McKenzie.

Anae, young three-quarters Dom Shipperley and Kimami Sitauti, and veteran lock Van Humphries were the new faces in the Reds squad following their bruising 19-15 win over NSW.

McKenzie left No.8 Leroy Houston at home when the competition pacesetters flew out on Thursday night to give him a full match of club rugby following three cameos off the bench.

Adam Wallace-Harrison is poised to be rewarded for his second-half impact against the Waratahs while 20-year-old Shipperley is also set to make his debut by replacing injured winger Digby Ioane.

With Anae boasting plenty of uncles, aunts and cousins in Wellington, he admitted there would be plenty of support.

"It's surprising that they all support the Reds - but I guess they just want tickets," he said.

Normally, it's Kiwi-born Houston scrambling for his extended family.

"Just as well we didn't take Leroy as well, otherwise we'd need 60 tickets between them," McKenzie quipped.

The Hurricanes have made six changes to the starting 15 which fell 40-24 to the Sharks in Durban including the dual loss of All Blacks backs Cory Jane (hamstring) and Ma'a Nonu (eye-socket).

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