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Matches: Queensland Reds 16 - 13 Stormers

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Teams: Australia | Queensland Reds | South Africa | Stormers

Two of the Super 14's most improved sides go head to head in Brisbane on Friday, when the Reds welcome their play-off rivals, the Stormers, to Suncorp Stadium.

The Reds' victory over the Bulls lifted them into the semi-final picture and underlined their title credentials but they will be under pressure to back up that performance with another of similar class against a Stormers side who are looking to further their own post-season aspirations.

Back-to-back victories over the Blues and most recently the Chiefs have seen Rassie Erasmus' side climb to third place in the table and their demolition of their Kiwi hosts in Hamilton last weekend was heralded as one of the most impressive displays of the season so far.

Their stellar backs division has been boosted this season by a tough, powerful forward pack and it's here that the Reds will need to put their shoulder to the wheel. Ewen McKenzie is expecting another tough forward battle and after making only one change to his starting lineup, where Adam Byrnes replaces the injured Van Humphries, he has also named a five-two split between forwards and backs on the bench.

In recent weeks the Reds have faced the other four South African franchises, the Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions and Bulls, in quick succession and have compiled something of a dossier on their rivals.

"This is the fifth South African side we'll have faced in as many weeks and each of the last four had particular strengths," McKenzie said. "The Stormers combine elements of all four of those, so Friday is a bit like a final exam for all the work we've done over the past four weekends."

With their hopes of a first semi-final spot since 2004 on the line, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has also opted for continuity. The only change comes in the front-row, where JD Moller drops to the bench and JC Kritzinger returns at loosehead.

The graft will be done up front but there is also plenty of room for fireworks as the Reds' in-form halfbacks look to unlock a stingy Stormers defence. Quade Cooper and Will Genia have been in sparkling condition so far this season and will want to put Peter Grant and Dewaldt Duvenage under pressure. Should the South African pairing gain the advantage then there is plenty of ammo out wide to punish any mistakes from the home side. Joining marquee names Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie in the backline are the exciting Juan de Jongh and diminutive fullback Gio Aplon.

Reds: P Hynes; B Va'aulu, W Chambers, A Faingaa, D Ioane; Q Cooper, W Genia (capt); B Daley, S Faingaa, L Weeks, R Simmons, A Byrnes, S Higginbotham, D Braid, L Houston

Replacements: S Hardman, G Holmes, J Kennedy, E Taylor, J Schatz, B Lucas, Luke Morahan

Stormers: G Aplon; S Naqelevuki, J Fourie, J De Jongh, B Habana; P Grant, D Duvenage; JC Kritzinger, T Liebenberg, B Harris, A Fondse, A Bekker, S Burger (capt), F Louw, D Vermeulen

Replacements: D Fourie, JD Moller, A Van Zyl, P Louw, R Januarie, W De Waal, T Whitehead