Bittersweet memories of "one of the best women's rugby games ever seen" have allowed Queensland to refocus following the Super W biting controversy that saw their captain suspended this week.
The Reds were edged 16-13 in a double golden point extra-time thriller last season, a loss that still bugs this weekend's captain Kiri Lingman.
But the back rower said that result had provided a welcome distraction this week after skipper Liz Patu's six week ban for biting fellow Australian forward Rebecca Clough last Saturday.
"What's done is done ... we're just ready to get out there and put it behind us," Lingman said.
The unbeaten Reds can do just that by getting one back on the Waratahs and move to 3-0 this season.
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Lingman said spectators at last year's final told her it was "it was one of the best women's games they'd ever seen".
"It was obviously heartbreaking, but in the best possible way," she said.
"It did pretty fantastic things for the sport and was the most intense game I've ever been a part of."
