Will Genia will play through the pain barrier to share Quade Cooper's big night © Getty Images

Enlarge

Will Genia will play with an ankle injury to share a significant milestone with Queensland Reds team-mate Quade Cooper, the Wallabies half-back available for Super Rugby match against the Blues in Auckland on Friday despite leaving the field injured during the round 11 loss to the Hurricanes.

The match on Friday will be Cooper's 100th appearance for the Reds, the five-eighth played most of them alongside Genia in a partnership that has been a defining aspect of Queensland rugby since the pair debuted for the Reds in 2007. Genia says his right ankle is still painful but it won't sideline him.

"I can run around, I can move, I can kick," he said. "There's still a bit of pain there but, mate, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who's not experiencing pain while playing and training anyway.

"One of the driving factors to push through the pain and play with the ankle is to be a part of [Cooper's 100th game]. I've played with him for a long, long time, and it's something I would not want to miss because he's a good friend."

Cooper endured a shocking night in the 35-21 loss to the Hurricanes, making several poor decisions, but Genia says confidence is one of the mercurial playmaker's key assets.

"That's something you want in your team-mates and in the players around you, guys who want the ball, want to take the game on," Genia said. "You know when he has the ball he's going to create something from nothing."

Genia understands the Reds' finals hopes are on a knife-edge after three consecutive defeats.

"This is do-or-die essentially," Genia said. "We're not worried about winning two games, four games, whatever; it's just about winning this weekend."