Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore believes the time has come for Queensland's rising tight-five to deliver on their enormous potential and lift the Reds off the Super 14 cellar.

Heading into Queensland's litmus test trial with the Blues on Thursday night, Moore wants the Reds' talented pack to dominate after several deflating seasons.

With Moore and fellow young Wallabies Rodney Blake and Greg Holmes in the front-row and skyscrapers James Horwill and Hugh McMeniman, both under 25 and with Test experience, the Reds are seen to have the nucleus of Australia's 2011 World Cup pack.

"We've had a few seasons now of learning and the time's come where we need to assert ourselves in the competition as a unit," the 20-Test hooker said.

"We've got some guys who have played a fair bit of Test rugby now and it's important that we become a dominant forward pack in the Super 14."

The near full-strength Reds are licking their lips at playing a high-quality Blues outfit - including first-choice All Blacks Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock and Joe Rokocoko - at Ballymore on Thursday night.

Boasting eight World Cup Wallabies, Queensland see the clash and their final trial against Western Force as a key springboard into the Super 14, which starts at home against the Highlanders on February 15.

"Getting a good start to the season is crucial for us and if we can do that we'll go really well," Moore said.

"(Tomorrow night) is really the start of it.

"We were pretty happy when we saw that Auckland named a very strong side. It's not going to be a mickey mouse game by any stretch.

"It will be a good measure of where we're at."

The return to Ballymore will see Chris Latham in a Reds jersey for the first time since 2006 but which jersey it will be remains a mystery after a laundry fire saw Queensland's alternative green strip go up in flames.

Former NSW duo Morgan Turinui and Chris Siale will make their Queensland debuts in the centres together while it will be an important match for utility Peter Hynes, who will mark Rokocoko on the wing.

Hynes impressed at outside centre in the second-string Reds' 26-10 loss to NSW on the weekend but is behind rested duo Digby Ioane (knee) and Clinton Schifcofske (calf) in the reckoning for a Super 14 start.

Fellow winger Brando Va'aulu (thigh) will join the first-choice pair on the sidelines tomorrow after a training collision with Henari Veratau opened the door for Caleb Brown to start.

New Reds coach Phil Mooney will go head-to-head with Blues mentor David Nucifora six years after they co-coached Brisbane Wests.

Queensland: Chris Latham, Caleb Brown, Morgan Turinui, Chris Siale, Peter Hynes, Berrick Barnes, Sam Cordingley (capt); Leroy Houston, David Croft, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill, Van Humphries, Rodney Blake, Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes. Res: Ben Coutts, Sean Hardman, Dayna Edwards, Ed O'Donoghue, Poutasi Luafutu, Ben Lucas, Quade Cooper, Lloyd Johansson, Henari Veratau.

Blues: Isa Nacewa, Rudi Wulf, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Nick Evans, Taniela Moa, Jerome Kaino, Onosai'i Tololima-Auvab'a, Justin Collins, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, Bronson Murray, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Nick White, Chris Heard, Bryn Evans, Chris Smylie, Lachie Munro, Jamie Helleur, George Pisi, Chris Lowrey, Chris Smith, Ben Atiga, Jarek Gobel, David Smith.

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