The Queensland Reds are backing their "phenomenal depth" to help withstand a ferocious physical test in their Super Rugby Pacific season opener against Moana Pasifika.
The Reds are bracing for a sting in Moana's tail after the ambitious Pacific Islanders endured a crushing after-the-hooter loss to the Western Force last Saturday.
The hosts will be without classy flanker Liam Wright, who remains sidelined from the shoulder injury that curtailed his short stint as Wallabies captain last season.
But co-captain Tate McDermott knows he will still have a star-studded leadership around him at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
"Poor old Rollers (Wright), he's been battling a fair bit in the injury department but last year he was fantastic so it has been a while since I've been alone," McDermott said at Thursday's captain's run.
"But I've had Fraser McReight there doing a pretty similar job and I've got Harry Wilson there, the Wallabies captain, by my side as well.
"So it's a luxury that that we can afford as a club to have people like that to surround anyone who's in the captaincy or co-captaincy role and I'm fortunate to be in this position."
Fellow Wallabies back-rower Seru Uru will start at blindside flanker with Wright still not ready.
In another display of their depth, Matt Faessler, Australia's starting hooker on last year's spring tour of the UK, will come off the bench after coach Less Kiss opted for Richie Asiata to run on.
"It's something we we pride ourselves on, really developing that depth," McDermott said.
"The depth we've got in the squad is phenomenal."
Moana, led this year by inspirational All Blacks flanker and former world player of the year Ardie Savea, suffered a frustrating 45-44 loss to the Force in their season opener.
"We're looking forward to facing Moana tomorrow night," McDermott said.
"We got a nice preview of them playing the Western Force last weekend and we can see that they've improved a hell of a lot since last year.
"They've obviously added quite a bit to their squad, none bigger than Ardie and the way he's kind of leading that side's impressive.
"So we're expecting a fierce match-up like we always are against a team like Moana.
"I don't really want to get them after a one-point loss, with big Ardie fired up."
The Reds are widely considered the best chance of breaking Australia's 11-year Super Rugby title drought.
But they have identified winning more away games as crucial in 2025.
They won only three of seven on the road last season, while winning five of their seven home games.
Wilson is hoping their two-match pre-season tour of the UK helps.
"It's a different way to start the year," Wilson said.
"Just travelling together, the connection piece, being around each other, was really good for our group."
