Queensland skipper James Horwill is adamant his side's injury-hit backline won't be exposed in Saturday night's Super Rugby clash with the Western Force at Perth's nib Stadium.

Injuries to regular starters Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas and Anthony Faingaa have forced Reds coach Ewen McKenzie to make a raft of changes this week, with winger Rod Davies rushed back from injury and 20-year-old fullback Jono Lance promoted for his Super Rugby debut.

Rugby league convert Will Chambers will slot in at outside centre for just his fifth start of the year, while 19-year-old flanker Liam Gill has been handed his run-on debut for a daunting battle with gun Wallabies pilferer David Pocock.

In contrast, the Force have had the luxury of welcoming back star Wallaby James O'Connor, winger Nick Cummins and scrumhalf Brett Sheehan into the starting line-up, bolstering a side that was so impressive in last week's 21-14 win over the Highlanders.

Ladder-leading Queensland can ill afford to lose following last week's shock defeat to the Brumbies, and Horwill was confident the new-look backline wouldn't wilt under the pressure.

"I don't think there's too much to worry about," Horwill told AAP on Friday.

"Rod Davies has pretty much started for us all year until he got injured.

"Will Chambers has been in our 22 almost every game of the year and Jono Lance is probably the only one new to the whole thing.

"Everyone else has been there the whole time.

"We've trained as a squad from day dot and they've been with us from day dot. So they know what's going on and what's expected."

McKenzie has been at his cagey best this week, closing off his team's training sessions to the media and delaying the side's announcement until 2pm WST on Friday, more than 24 hours after the Force revealed their starting line-up.

But Force skipper Nathan Sharpe said he couldn't care less about the secrecy, claiming it wouldn't have any influence on the game.

"There's not so much he (McKenzie) can do really, and whatever he does we'll deal with on the night of the game," Sharpe said.

"If we've got a good attitude going into the game, it doesn't really matter who they play where.

"As a team they're going to have the same philosophies, same principles and want to play a similar sort of style regardless of personnel."

Horwill said Queensland (58 points) were desperate to atone for last week's loss to the Brumbies, which opened the door for the Stormers (57), Blues (55) and Crusaders (53) to snatch top spot by season's end.

"It was an uncharacteristic game for us. The boys are keen to get back on the right side of the way we play," he said.

The Reds spent time this week studying the vision of reserve Force scrumhalf James Stannard, who will play at five-eighth for the third straight game after an impressive tour of New Zealand.

"He's done well. He's steadied the ship in the backline. When the Force had a number of injuries he stepped up to the plate, so he's someone we'll have to be wary of," Horwill said.

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