The Queensland Reds have an abundance of headaches at the moment - but thanks to Lachie Turner's performance on Saturday night, fullback is not one of them.
Having prepared all week to play on the wing against the Western Force, Turner was rushed into the No.15 jersey when news of Karmichael Hunt's impending cocaine charges emerged on Friday morning.
If it was a jarring transition he did a good job of hiding it - Turner led the way for the embattled Reds, scoring 13 points in their stirring 18-6 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
With Hunt again not in the selection frame this week as he awaits his day in court, the cool-headed Turner - a nine-year Super Rugby veteran - will again marshall the backfield for Queensland for Friday night's match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
"I thought he played really well," coach Richard Graham said.
"He worked with those two young guys (wingers Campbell Magnay and Chris Kuridrani) very well and it gives me a lot of confidence.
"Certainly in the warm-up he gave me no confidence with his goalkicking but he got 13 points and that's all that counts."
The Reds were in good spirits on Monday as they trained together for the first time since Saturday night's win - and without Hunt, who will be kept on a "modified" regime separate from his teammates until he faces court to answer four counts of supplying cocaine next Thursday.
Captain James Slipper (concussion) might have missed most of the Force victory, but he hasn't missed the impact it's had on the playing group.
"You can take a lot away from a performance like that," Slipper said.
"The character that we showed in gruelling conditions, (with a) bad preparation obviously and the way we performed under pressure, was something that I'm proud of the boys.
"Sitting in that changeroom after the game, it was a great sight to see - a lot of boys put a lot of hard work into that week, a lot of hard training, and we just wanted to repay the Queensland fans."
Meanwhile, James O'Connor's long-awaited Reds debut should finally happen this weekend after yet another false start.
O'Connor was set to line up at flyhalf on Saturday but his knee issues flared up again in the pre-match warm-up, paving the way for deputy Nick Frisby to start the match.
"I have said yes every week. If I say no I'm hoping he'll play," joked Graham.
There's less hope for Wallaby James Horwill who turned up to training on Monday with his injured hand heavily strapped.
Graham, who also confirmed he was combing the player market for backline reinforcements in light of his side's bulging casualty ward, said Horwill was "very unlikely" to play against the Highlanders.
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