Queensland Reds coach Nick Stiles has reacted to an "atrocious" last up loss by dumping three players including Wallaby lock Kane Douglas from the Super Rugby franchise's starting side.
Douglas, flanker Adam Korczyk and winger Chris Kuridrani move to the bench to make way for Izack Rodda, Izaia Perese and Hendrik Tui for Saturday night's clash against the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.
Rodda and Perese will make their run-on debuts while Tui, who was runner-up in last year's Pilecki Medal, will make his first start of the season.
The shake-up comes after the Reds fell 26-19 to the Western Force in Perth last week and Stiles believes responding to that setback will be a true test of the their character.
"It says we've got depth in the squad and performances like we put out against the Force aren't good enough," Stiles told reporters on Thursday.
"We've made some tough decisions but really happy with the players we've chosen."
Stiles said 202cm-tall, 20-year-old Rodda more than deserved his opportunity over Douglas.
"You look at Kane's resume, he's done some tremendous things in the game but I just think he didn't play that well against the Force," he said.
"He didn't put up a fight about it, he's a smart footballer, he knows.
"(Rodda) has really filled out that big frame nicely. He's just got that youthfulness that doesn't care, he wants to bash whatever he can, carry as hard as he can.
"I just think that's the attitude we've got to take into this game.
"I want guys who are going to front-foot the Crusaders and play tough, hard football."
Perese was taken on the Wallabies' European tour last year before he had even played a single minute of Super Rugby.
The 19-year-old has a powerful, lowset frame like Digby Ioane, his childhood idol who is expected to make his debut for the Crusaders this weekend.
"There's a lot of similarities. He's so physical and intense with everything, it really reminds you of a young Digby," Stiles said.
Stiles admitted Korczyk was unfortunate to lose his spot but said the line-bending power of Japanese Test star Tui is precisely what the Reds will need against the Crusaders.
Queensland Reds: Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia'aua, Eto Nabuli, Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith, Hendrik Tui, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Sam Talakai, Stephen Moore, James Slipper (c). Reserves: Andrew Ready, Sef Fa'agase, Taniela Tupou, Kane Douglas, Adam Korczyk, James Tuttle, Jake McIntyre, Chris Kuridrani.
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