Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham has defended his decision not to risk star recruits James O'Connor and Adam Thomson in Friday night's Super Rugby season opener in Canberra.
O'Connor and Thomson were not considered for selection after interrupted pre-seasons - the former having battled illness and knee issues, while the latter is shaking off a minor shoulder injury.
Graham said he felt comfortable leaving the pair behind in Brisbane rather than succumbing to temptation and including them to help kickstart Queensland's Super Rugby campaign.
"In a short season like this, you certainly want to start the season well, there's no doubt about that," Graham said.
"But at the same time the one thing you understand is if you don't do well in this game, you can turn things around very quickly.
"I felt we were rushed with both of them and with another 15 round games to go after this, it'd be foolish to risk them."
Graham said O'Connor was a "day or two shy" of selection while Thomson, a recent arrival from Japanese club Canon Eagles, was the Reds' 24th man.
A further eight players were unavailable for selection due to fitness concerns, including in-form pair Anthony Fainga'a (knee) and Beau Robinson (calf), who both picked up injuries in last week's trial match win over the Crusaders.
It is a far from ideal scenario for the Reds, particularly against a star-studded Brumbies outfit laden with Wallabies and with flyhalf Karmichael Hunt likely to need all the help he can get on his Super Rugby debut.
But Graham has warned the Brumbies - and the rest of the competition - that they have only seen a fraction of what the code-hopper is capable of.
"Some of the things he did last week, were all class. (But) he definitely played within himself," he said.
"There's a lot left in the tank that I haven't even seen yet.
"Karmichael understands he doesn't need to go out there and win the game for us.
"He needs to go out there and move us around the field in the right direction.
Will Genia will play his 100th Super Rugby game and Hunt said he would be leaning heavily on the Wallabies star for in-game pointers - particularly given the absence of Fainga'a.
"As I have since I've started training with him," Hunt said.
"He offers me a lot of advice out on the field as well and that won't change tomorrow night.
"Although a little bit of load is put back on my shoulders, Willy will take a little bit of that off of mine."
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