Battle-scarred Queensland was left to feel the table-topping Brumbies received all the luck after ACT skipper Stirling Mortlock escaped a possible suspension leading into their Super 12 clash on Sunday.

The Reds, trialling two new flyhalves after injuries struck down three playmakers, had felt some good fortune had swung their way when Mortlock was reportedly "cited" after ACT's 33-15 win over the Stormers.

The Stormers had lodged a complaint against Mortlock for an alleged "swinging arm" which left Stormers flyhalf Chris Rossouw with a broken nose and sidelined for two weeks.

Several rugby websites had reported the Wallabies centre had been cited and with the Australian Rugby Union unable to gain any official notification from South Africa, where it was a public holiday, confusion reigned.

But the Brumbies were able to breathe a sigh of relief and the Reds again question their fortune when the ARU confirmed the Stormers complaint was knocked back by the South African citing commissioner.

Queensland, fresh from a round five bye, went about the business of slotting new recruit Tim Walsh into their backline for the crunch game at Canberra Stadium.

Both former Australian U21 Walsh, who arrived home from England on the weekend, and former Reds utility back Nathan Williams were given time at flyhalf in an opposed training session against Queensland A at Ballymore.

While coach Jeff Miller has indicated Walsh has the inside running, the call-up presents a possible lifeline to Williams with a cloud over skipper Elton Flatley's short-term future due to recent head knocks.

After leaving Queensland in 2001 following a fall-out with then coach Mark McBain, Williams played with Stade Francais and Harlequins in Europe before returning back on the Gold Coast and hoping to add to his 41 state caps.

Likewise Walsh, capped twice off the bench in 1999, has made an unlikely route back to Ballymore via North Harbour in the New Zealand NPC, Worcester and Leeds in England.

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