Former title-winning Queensland mentor John Connolly believes the "stars have aligned" for the Reds to end their 16-season Super Rugby drought.

Connolly was the first Reds' coach in the professional era in 1996, following Super 10 triumphs in 1994-95, and expects Quade Cooper and Will Genia to lead them back to the promised land.

The 2007 World Cup Wallabies' coach said the superiority of the Genia-Cooper halves combination will ensure Queensland topple the Blues in Saturday night's semi-final in Brisbane.

Then, Connolly said, the Reds would have a massive advantage over their final opponents - the Stormers or Crusaders - who will need to travel to Brisbane following their Cape Town semi-final.

"Those two teams may be playing their grand final this weekend, so the stars might be aligning for Queensland," Connolly told AAP.

"It is still hard work (to win a title from No.1) and you need a bit of luck but, having said that, we have a very real chance.

"I'd be preferring to be in our position than anyone else's."

Highlighting the Reds' significant home ground advantage, no team has won a Super Rugby play-off on foreign soil since 2000.

But Connolly, who enjoyed both Super 10 triumphs in South Africa, well knows it can happen.

He took Reds' teams containing John Eales, Tim Horan, Jason Little, David Wilson and co to minor premierships in 1996 and 1999, before they were upset in Ballymore semi-finals by the Sharks and Crusaders respectively.

"There's no doubt you need a bit running for you and playing one of those teams coming out of Africa is difficult.

"The Crusaders' performance to date has been miraculous. Having never played at home, to have been to England and played, and now off to South Africa, I don't know if they can get over that hurdle to be perfectly honest," he said of the squad rendered homeless by the earthquakes in Christchurch.

"After their first couple of games, they played a month where they played the best rugby from a Super Rugby team ever before being hit down by injuries.

"We've had a bit of luck with injuries and you need that but they have been knocked about. It's a phenomenal effort."

Queensland will field close to their strongest team with flanker Beau Robinson (elbow), centre Anthony Faingaa (hamstring) and winger Digby Ioane (head knock) all cleared to start.

They will enjoy a key lineout edge over the Blues after the Aucklanders confirmed lock Anthony Boric (foot) would be replaced by backrower Chris Lowrey in the second row.

Connolly said there was little between the teams from 1-15 but tipped Wallabies' pair Genia and Cooper to repeat their dominance of Alby Mathewson and Stephen Brett six weeks ago in the Reds' 37-31 victory.

"I don't know how well, with Boric out, how the Blues can launch their attack from the lineouts," he said.

"I think Queensland have such a decisive advantage at nine and 10, as it was a month ago, and it will probably be too much for Auckland to overcome.

"They made the difference that night and were clearly superior in game management and everything else and I suspect it won't change."

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