Reds coach Mark McBain says league convert Wendell Sailor is well able to cope with any kicking game aimed at him.

When the Reds meet the Hurricanes in Saturday's Super 12 match in Palmerston North, it will be Sailor's fifth game, and he has yet to score.

McBain said he was satisfied with the winger's performance, although there had been a bit of pressure on the player to score tries.

"Sailor had been given kicking lessons in case he had to return the ball in the air, but mostly he had been effective running the ball back," the coach said. "Kicking in behind him hasn't worked. And it didn't work in league either. They tried that in State of Origin and it didn't work.

McBain admitted that Sailor's lack of tries had aroused some comment. "There's a lot of pressure on him at the moment to score tries. People are now really putting that pressure on him. He's had opportunities and I suppose he's missed.

"Against ACT (Brumbies) he should have scored - but didn't. But when the tries start coming - and they will - I hope they become a flood. Generally we've been quite happy with Sailor. The more he has the ball in his hands, the better for us."

Sailor's fellow winger Ben Tune should also be of major concern to the Hurricanes. The Wallaby, who looked like becoming a world great three years ago before he was injured, has finally shown signs of returning to his best form after a succession of knee injuries.

"Tune's going nicely," McBain said. "It's great to have him on the paddock because for two years he hasn't really been there."

McBain insisted he considered the Hurricanes a highly dangerous combination. "Last week (against the Cats) they were pretty good, and in the first half they were very good. But the second half was all over the shop. They're very dangerous, with some very good players there.

"We respect the Hurricanes enormously and in this competition you can't predict how some teams are going to go."

Reds: Chris Latham, Ben Tune, Daniel Herbert (capt), Steve Kefu, Wendell Sailor, Elton Flatley, Sam Cordingly, Toutai Kefu, David Croft, Matt Cockbain, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Connors, Fletcher Dyson, Tom Murphy, Nick Stiles: Substitutes: Sean Hardman, Simon Kerr, Mike Mitchell, Junior Pelesasa, John Roe, Andrew Scotney, Jacob Rauluni.