Queensland revelation Mike Harris will be denied the chance to avenge his Blues snubbing due to knee surgery which will put him on the Super Rugby sidelines for up to a month.

Harris injured his kneecap in the Reds' 33-18 win over the Melbourne Rebels on the weekend and will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday.

In a blow for Queensland, Harris will miss Friday night's top-of-the-table clash with the front-running Blues, who overlooked the 22-year-old utility back for a place on their 2011 roster.

Harris was a member of Auckland-based franchise's wider training group last year through his time at North Harbour, after representing New Zealand schools and the New Zealand under 20s.

While he's lived all of his life across the Tasman, Harris is eligible for the Wallabies due to an Australian-born grandmother.

That lineage sparked Reds' coach Ewen McKenzie's interest in Harris and he has duly repaid the faith for Queensland, nailing down a starting spot at inside centre since round six.

Although McKenzie feared he would be without Harris for four weeks a quick recovery from surgery may ensure he only sits out clashes against the Blues and the Crusaders (May 29) as the Reds have a bye next weekend.

The kneecap cartilage injury is a sad result for the tall and skilful back as he was set for a positional showdown against the All Blacks' Luke McAllister, his playmaking partner at North Harbour.

McKenzie must now decide whether to slot specialist inside centre Ben Tapuai straight into No.12 or pick either Will Chambers or Wallaby Digby Ioane at outside centre and shift Anthony Faingaa closer to the action.

In better news for the Reds, winger Luke Morahan and fullback Ben Lucas have both overcome shoulder injuries and should start at Suncorp Stadium.

But reserve prop Greg Holmes remains in serious doubt due to an elbow infection which saw him become an eleventh hour scratching for last Friday's match in Melbourne.

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