QR Reds' scrumhalf Sam Cordingley has won his battle against injury to claim a spot on the bench for Saturday's Super 14 match against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium (kickoff 7:30pm).

He will be joined by reserve prop Rodney Blake, who has served a one match suspension, and 21-year old winger Caleb Brown, who comes into the squad for the suspended Digby Ioane.

It's Brown's first Super 14 opportunity since May 2006. He spent last season on the sidelines with persistent hamstring problems and has been working his way back to form with appearances in the Australian Sevens squad and in Trinity Premier Rugby.

"Caleb's been working hard to earn this chance. His enthusiasm will really give the side an extra lift," Head Coach Phil Mooney said.

It will be Cordingley's final appearance before heading overseas at the end of the year to rejoin his former French club, Grenoble.

It's been a long haul back for Cordingley, who was desperate to play one more game for the Reds before heading for France.

"We're fortunate that Sam has come through ok. While we couldn't risk starting him after such a long layoff, young Ben Lucas has been doing a good job for us at scrumhalf in Sam's absence and we'll still have the benefit of bringing Sam off the bench when the time is right," Mooney said.

Lock James Horwill retains the captaincy he assumed from Cordingley after the scrumhalf first fell victim to a calf injury in South Africa in early April.

The team is (from fullback): Clinton Schifcofske, Brando Va'aulu, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, David Croft, Poutasi Luafutu, James Horwill (c), Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Stephen Moore, Ben Coutts. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, Scott Higginbotham, Sam Cordingley, Charlie Fetoai, Caleb Brown