Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie says his side must take their chances if they are to regain the title they won in 2011 © Getty Images

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Matches: Queensland Reds 12 - 11 Blues

Queensland Reds are searching for their finishing precision against New Zealand's surprise-packet the Blues after lamenting bombing 10 tries against the Brumbies.

The Reds scored three tries to one in their intense 19-19 draw at Suncorp Stadium but believed it should have been many more thanks to the opportunities they created with the adventurous play in the fast-paced encounter.

"I think we might have left 10 tries out there," coach Ewen McKenzie said. "We scored three and had three held up and there were other ones we left out there. That's just about option-taking under pressure, having the vision to see the opportunity or the skills to be able to take it. The good thing is we created those opportunities - we didn't take them but they were there."

Skipper James Horwill was also kicking himself for knocking back two or three penalties in front of the goalposts and going for a five-pointer, which eventually paid off in the 75th minute with a try to Liam Gill.

"Looking at it my game management needed to be a little bit better," Horwill said. "It was probably a bit helter-skelter and I needed to calm things down at times. I put my hand up and should have taken some points and settled things down a bit."

Queensland's finishing had improved through the season - and the Reds have scored 11 tries in their past three matches - but it's still not at the same level as 2011 when they won the title.

McKenzie knows they must be more accurate on Friday night at home against a dangerous Blues side which has gone from the bottom of the Kiwi conference last year to the top now.

Under John Kirwan, the Aucklanders showed their attacking prowess against the Reds in their first trial of the year - scoring five tries in a 41-35 loss in February.

"You have to have your wits about you, they've got some real strike power," McKenzie said of a team that boasts backline threats Piri Weepu, Rene Ranger, Frank Halai and Charles Piutau.