Taking on Wallabies breakdown king David Pocock - it's a baptism of fire that should have any teenage flanker quaking in their boots.

But Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie believes 18-year-old rookie Liam Gill only needs to look over the other side of the ruck at Pocock to realise he can thrive in a starting debut against the Western Force on Saturday night.

The Wallabies ball-scavenger made his Super Rugby debut at 18, a year after the Force's attempts to play him as a 17-year-old in 2005 were denied, and was an instant hit.

Rising star Gill, expected to edge out Ben Coridas at No.7 for the Reds, turns just 19 on Wednesday and his maturing body still only weighs 96kg - 8kg lighter than Pocock.

McKenzie, though, has no concerns about the science student's age, size or inexperience as he prepares to take on Australia's best back-row of Pocock, Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman.

"You've got to start somewhere and everyone knows the origins of Pocock and how he got his start," he said.

"He was a 17-year-old and they were trying to get him out there.

"You can start young and do well. Pocock's done it and there's no reason why someone like a Gill can't forge his way at 18 and get on the same sort of journey.

"He's a high-quality player with a vast array of skills. He just hasn't had a lot of opportunity yet."

With the pacesetting Reds battling a worrying injury list, McKenzie is playing his cards extremely close to his chest ahead of the penultimate round match in Perth.

For the first time this year, all training sessions are closed and he will only name a travel squad on Wednesday and wait until match eve to reveal his side.

Despite the weekend's 22-14 upset loss to the Brumbies, McKenzie was impressed by Coridas's efforts filling in for the injured Beau Robinson at open-side flanker.

He indicated the debutant did enough to warrant a second start through his highly physical ball-carrying, defence and work at the breakdown.

But Gill had been rested from the Brumbies clash due to the fact he'd spent three consecutive days in the air travelling from Sydney to Italy and back after being recalled from the world under-20 championships due to Robinson's injury.

Force coach Richard Graham fully expects Gill to wear No.7 and believes the mobile and active Reds pack will lessen the burden of the youngster, who was a standout for the Australian sevens team at last year's Commonwealth Games.

Although Queensland will miss key backs Digby Ioane (concussion), Anthony Faingaa (hamstring) and Ben Lucas (knee), McKenzie denied they had an injury crisis.

In fact, the wily coach said he enjoyed having the challenge of finding solutions but indicated they would not be so "obtuse" as starting back-rowers Gill and Scott Higginbotham in the backline.

If winger Rod Davies can prove his fitness to make his comeback from knee surgery, the Reds can cover the injured trio with Davies and reserve backs Will Chambers and Dom Shipperley.

"It's never a crisis, it's standard rugby fare," said McKenzie.

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