Reactivated Radike Samo may be 33 and have spent the last three years in the wilderness in Japan but he still hasn't given up hope of a second Super rugby title as well as a second coming.

Three weeks after receiving an SOS from the Reds, Samo has been named to start in the second-row alongside fit-again lineout general Van Humphries for Friday night's crucial Super 14 clash in Wellington.

He will line up against an in-form Hurricanes pack not only hoping to help Queensland into their first finals campaign in nine seasons but also gain him a new contract.

Queensland's lock crisis - losing James Horwill, Adam Byrnes and Rob Simmons to injury - already has the Fiji-born former Wallabies and Brumbies forward pinching himself.

"I was a bit surprised but it's good to be here," Samo told AAP after flying into Wellington on Wednesday.

"When I was back in Japan I thought it would be good to have another crack but I didn't think that would happen."

But Samo, one of five changes to the Reds starting side which fell 32-12 to the Brumbies, realises he has his work cut out matching the pace of the game after last playing for the Brumbies in 2006.

"It's quite a different level (to Japan) and after four years of not playing Super 14 it's going to be tough to get back to that level but I'm really excited," he said.

"I hope something comes up (for 2011), I'll see what happens on the weekend and go from there but the fingers are crossed."

The long-striding Samo played six Tests for the Wallabies and was a member of the Brumbies 2004 title-winning outfit when he bulldozed through opponents and held the ball in one hand looking to dish off to support.

The resurgent Reds' exciting brand of ball-in-hand rugby agrees with the big Fijian but admits it's a much different environment to the Brumbies - which was led by the likes of George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Stirling Mortlock and George Smith.

"It feels a lot different - there's a lot of young guys coming through but the way they play is a credit to them," he said.

"It's exciting to watch, it's awesome."

If Samo feels old he only need look to the man beside him, Humphries, who at 34 is enjoying his best and most consistent season for the fourth-placed Queenslanders.

Humphries has shrugged off an ankle injury to be selected for a return along with winger Rod Davies (hamstring) but the Reds suffered a major blow with vice-captain Daniel Braid succumbing to a knee injury.

Andrew Shaw has been elevated into openside flanker ahead of Jake Schatz and former Waratah Lei Tomiki who were both named on a bench of five forwards.

The seventh-placed Hurricanes, playing with the momentum of three straight wins, have injury dramas of their own with Victor Vito (calf) ruled out and centre Conrad Smith (concussion) in doubt.

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