Queensland halfback Sam Cordingley knows enough rugby union hard luck tales to prevent him from looking past Saturday night's clash with New South Wales.

Cordingley should cement the Wallaby reserve halfback spot if he can out-perform Waratahs rival Chris Whitaker at the Sydney Football Stadium, but Cordingley won't talk about it. He only has to walk into his Brisbane home for a reminder that one injury can destroy any Test hopes.

Exactly 12 months ago, Cordingley's flatmate Nathan Spooner was on the verge of Wallaby selection while Cordingley recovered from a worrying head injury.

Spooner went on to play two Tests but he's had nothing but trouble since, failing to play a Super 12 match this season because of a groin injury. Cordingley should now take over as resident international at the Kangaroo Point unit after his impressive Super 12 season.

"I missed most of the Super 12 last year because I was injured but that's just something you have to be prepared for," Cordingley said. "You can't afford to dwell on it. I just want to play well and once you get on the field you don't think about things like making the Test team."

There was a time when Cordingley wanted to wear the Waratahs jumper, but the 24-year-old is now a satisfied Queenslander. Cordingley moved to Brisbane in October 1998 to escape the glare of Wallaby halfback George Gregan after a rookie stint at the ACT Brumbies.

Gregan now stands in his way at international level but Cordingley will initially be happy just to win his first Wallaby jumper for the opening Test against Argentina on June 17. He'll have to beat Whitaker, who was Gregan's deputy last season, but the Waratah struggled for exposure as Gregan helped orchestrate Australia's World Cup triumph.

The Reds and the Waratahs will be chasing a consolation win when the national championship begins on Saturday night after both teams missed the Super 12 finals.

The matches mark Tim Horan's final appearances for Queensland and the veteran Wallaby indicated the Reds would appreciate the different pressures.

"There's definitely the same desire to beat NSW but we won't have to worry about things like scoring four tries to get a bonus point," Horan said.

The Reds will slot Nathan Williams on to the wing to replace injured star Ben Tune while fellow winger Damian Smith remains confident he can recover from injury. The Reds will take an extra replacement to Sydney to cover for Smith while backrower Scott Fava - also a flatmate of Cordingley - will play his second match against his former state.

Fava replaces injured David Wilson with Mark Murray moving to the back of the scrum to replace injured No.8 Toutai Kefu.

Queensland: Chris Latham, Nathan Williams, Daniel Herbert, Tim Horan, Damian Smith, Elton Flatley, Sam Cordingley, Mark Murray, David Wilson, Matt Cockbain, John Eales (capt), Mark Connors, Fletcher Dyson/Glenn Panoho, Michael Foley, Nic Stiles. Reserves to be confirmed.

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