Queensland Reds are without a win since Round 2 and the gravity of the situation in terms of possible Rugby World Cup selection is certainly not lost on flanker Liam Gill.

The openside was a standout performer in yet another Reds loss on Friday night as Richard Graham's side gave up an early 12-3 lead to lose 23-15 to Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park. The eight-point defeat was their fifth in succession, leaving the 2011 Super Rugby champions in 14th place.

The poor start to the season has not only cast doubt on Graham's coaching future but also damaged the World Cup selection hopes of some formerly first-choice Test stars; players from the in-form Brumbies and Waratahs seemingly edging ahead in the race for the 32-man squad.

Speaking from Johannesburg ahead of the Reds' clash with the Bulls in Pretoria, Gill said it was imperative the Reds found form as players exposed to a winning culture would be a far more attractive option for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.

Liam Gill did his utmost to keep the Reds in the contest on Friday night © Getty Images

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"To be a Wallaby you need to be a part of a successful set-up," Gill said. "So we understand that we need to really regroup and start to drive a winning culture. We understand we need to stop the ideology of losing and reshaping it to just mentally get us over the line. I mean we're in games; but we just lose. We need to get through that and I think that'll mean huge progressions from Wallabies. It stems back from how the Reds are going and that's really what we are focused on doing."

Gill, himself, is among a host of quality options Cheika can call on at No.7. The Wallabies coach knows all too well the skill of Michael Hooper having coached him at both Super Rugby and Test level while Brumbies back-rower David Pocock has made a strong return from yet another injury lay-off.

Gill was probably fourth in line for the openside role at the start of the season but an injury to Western Force skipper Matt Hodgson, and the 23-year-old's Herculean efforts against the Rebels on Friday, have thrust him right back into World Cup calculations. Gill was outstanding as the Reds were forced to play with 14 men for 60 minutes following the sending off of former skipper James Horwill.

"The Rebels game was disappointing but there's a lot to take from it, considering the circumstances, considering the pressure, considering what we were put through," Gill said of Horwill's dismissal. "I really did think the team stood up. Sixty minutes with 14 blokes is a huge ask and to stay within, arguably, a scoring point to the last few minutes is a huge stride that we will take.

James Horwill has since been issued a one-week ban for a swinging arm © Getty Images

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"But it's just frustrating, I mean I think we did deserve better than what we got; we worked so hard all game to let it slip again. So we understand that circumstance was difficult but it's also something I think was very character-testing and something we're going to need at Loftus oval this weekend."

Smarting from a last-gasp loss to the Lions, the Bulls will be an incredibly tough proposition for the Reds at altitude in Pretoria. The South African conference leaders are also likely to regain Test stars Jan Serfontein, Handre Pollard and, possibly, Flip van der Merwe.

While admitting his side would be up against it at Loftus Versfeld, Gill is happy to be away from the pressures at home.

"The team is really excited; Loftus is an awesome place to play at," he said. "Understandably, it's one of the hardest venues in world rugby to get a win at but I guess that makes us more excited. We understand the pressure; we understand the situation we're in; so the pressure really is off us. We just need to go there, put the team together, get out strides happening and I think you'll find we'll put a decent result on the pitch on Saturday."