Stephen Moore will be redeployed as a bench weapon by Queensland to guard against another second-half Super Rugby fadeout in South Africa.
The harsh lesson of last week's heartbreaking loss to the Crusaders seems to have been heeded by Reds coach Nick Stiles, who has called up Andrew Ready to start at hooker on Sunday morning against the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The Reds were pipped 22-20 in the final minute after being overrun in the second stanza by the wily Crusaders, who sensed the opportunity for a comeback and made it happen by capitalising on Queensland's inexperience and misdirection.
Anticipating more of the same from the Lions, Stiles reckons having Moore enter the fray midway through the match could make a key difference.
"If you look at the make-up of our side, in the second half of a game where you have made substitutions, you start to lose that leadership," Stiles said.
"I feel this weekend against the Lions, it's going to be a close game hopefully ... you're playing in a foreign environment - Stephen's leadership will be crucial there."
Ready and Moore's running battle for the No.2 jersey always loomed as an intriguing Reds subplot and one of Stiles' biggest ongoing selection headaches this season.
One is a fast-developing 23-year-old who has been earmarked as a Test hooker-in-waiting, while the other is not only a 117-Test veteran, but the captain of the Wallabies.
Stiles said there was an element of torch-passing in the selection, with form only one factor.
"This change is purely around how we feel we can get a win this weekend," he said.
"But it's important that we continue to develop Andrew.
"Stephen doesn't want to stunt Andrew's development. He came to the Reds so he can help him flourish and get better."
Stiles flagged a similar balance in playing time between halfbacks Nick Frisby and James Tuttle, who are also locked in tense competition for a starting spot.
He admitted Frisby's inaccurate kicking allowed the Crusaders opportunities back into the game last week and said he was impressed by Tuttle's continued growth.
Kicking will take on even greater importance at altitude, and particularly against the Lions - last year's runners-up, who play an expansive, up-tempo style of rugby and will feast on similar mistakes.
But Stiles was feeling confident after what he said was the best training week in South Africa he'd seen in his years at the Reds.
REDS: Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia'aua, Eto Nabuli, Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith, Hendrik Tui, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Sam Talakai, Andrew Ready, James Slipper (capt).
Res: Stephen Moore, Markuz Vanzati, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Tui, Adam Korczyk, James Tuttle, Jake McIntyre, Chris Kuridrani.
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