Queensland Reds skipper James Horwill has ruled himself out of the Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes on Friday after failing to shake an ankle injury.

Horwill, who missed the end of last season and the entire Wallabies campaign with a serious hamstring tear, injured his left ankle in a training mishap prior to his side's opening-round loss to the Brumbies.

The 27-year-old had originally planned to return for the 25-17 triumph over the Waratahs, but he will have to wait at least one more week before making his long-awaited return.

"I won't be playing this week," James Horwill said, wearing a moonboot, at the Wallabies function to commence the 100-day countdown to the British & Irish Lions tour said.

"It's been a little bit frustrating but [the moon boot is] hopefully coming off by Tuesday and then I can get back into it. We're hopeful I can get back in the next couple of weeks but we just need to see what the response is to running. I ran last week and pulled up a little bit sore so hence the reason I went back into the boot to try and de-load it a bit and take a bit of the pressure off while walking around."

The Wallabies captain is confident the injury is not worse than first thought, and he is confident his latest se-back will not threaten his dream of playing against the British & Irish Lions in June and July.

"I hope so, that's the plan," Horwill said when asked if he would be fit and firing in time for the first Test in Brisbane on June 22. "First I just have to get on the field. It's been a long time off for me but there's still a lot of rugby to be played. We've only had two rounds of Super Rugby so there's plenty of footy to play and I'm hoping not to be out for too much longer but when I get back and make sure that I'm still playing to my ability that I know I can then we'll see where that goes from there."

Reds and Wallabies half-back Will Genia is also confident of returning in time for the "once-in-a-career" series against the Lions. Genia tore an anterior cruciate ligament in Australia's Rugby Championship win over South Africa in September.

"At this stage hopefully round five or round six, the whole rehab process has gone really well and really smoothly," Genia said of his likely return date. "I've also got to tick off a few boxes and start doing contact as of this afternoon so hopefully everything goes well."

But the 25-year-old is adamant he will not risk further injury by coming back too soon.

"I think it's really important [to be patient], not just for the Lions series but in terms of my well being as a player moving forward," he said. "I spoke to James [Horwill] and spoken to a lot of guys who have done their knees previously and they said the worst thing you can do is try to rush back so I'll just go and if it feels right I'll play and if it doesn't I'll give it a few more weeks."

Reds team: Aidan Toua; Dom Shipperley, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas; Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk; Ed O'Donoghue, Rob Simmons; James Slipper (captain), Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes Replacements: James Hanson, Albert Anae, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Radike Samo, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Luke Morahan.