The Blues are looking forward to some dry weather rugby in Brisbane on Saturday night but are also wary of overplaying the conditions.

Coach Pat Lam and his players head across the Tasman on Thursday ahead of their Super Rugby semi-final with minor premiers Queensland, leaving the wet, wintry Auckland weather behind them.

Lam said a dry Suncorp Stadium would mean his team "can play some rugby".

But their 37-31 round-robin defeat to the Reds last month at the same venue also taught them that they still needed to do the basics.

"We went from rain, a lot of wet weather, and we went over there and were really loose with our passes," he said.

"It's given us a real focus on making sure our detail is right, that we can't take it for granted that a dry ground is going to mean running the ball at ease."

Lam has named a line-up that at present contains one forced change in the starting 15, with loose forward Chris Lowrey deputising for Anthony Boric at lock.

Boric suffered a mid-foot sprain in the win over the NSW Waratahs last Friday night, and has been ruled out of the rest of the competition.

Lam described Boric as a big loss but said Lowrey had shown his ability at lock when used there.

He was also confident the Blues would claim their share of lineout ball, despite being down to one frontline lock in Ali Williams.

"Chris Lowrey showed against the Highlanders he can win ball," he said.

"The thing about lineouts is there's more than just having a tall guy there.

"It about making sure the timing, the combinations and the execution are right, so we're confident we will get enough ball and it won't all go to Ali Williams."

One selection uncertainty is on the left wing, with Rene Ranger and Lachie Munro bracketed.

Ranger is coming back from two weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Munro got bruising to his lower body after NSW skipper Phil Waugh clattered into him last Friday.

Lam said he would wait until arriving in Brisbane before deciding between Ranger's line-breaking ability and Munro's goalkicking.

The Blues haven't been in the last four of the competition since 2007, when they lost to top qualifiers the Sharks, and Lam said the feeling within the camp was "fantastic".

"We've got nothing to lose," Lam said.

"Four hasn't beaten one in 12 years and everything points to a Reds victory, so it's a good challenge for us."

Blues: Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley, Luke McAlister, Lachie Munro/Rene Ranger, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson; Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Chris Lowrey, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (capt), Charlie Faumuina. Res: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, James King/Mat Luamanu, Daniel Braid, Chris Smylie, Munro/Ranger, Winston Stanley/Sherwin Stowers.

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