The injury-ravaged Queensland Reds have been forced to make five starting changes and will take only three first-choice forwards into their final round Super 14 clash with the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has lost front-rowers Saia Faingaa (neck) and Ben Daley (bicep), centre Anthony Faingaa (shoulder) and winger Rod Davies (hamstring) from the team which fell 44-21 to the Hurricanes in Wellington last week.

McKenzie has also dropped flanker Andrew Shaw who was sin-binned for a dangerous lifting tackle which was a pivotal moment in the loss that saw Queensland's semi-final hopes unravel.

Record-breaking hooker Sean Hardman replaces Saia Faingaa to start in his Super 14 swansong and 148th match for the Reds.

The 2009 Australian Under-20s player of the year, James Slipper, joins him in the front-row while Jake Schatz is promoted to the back-row, the versatile Ben Lucas will start at fullback and Ben Tapuai slots into inside centre.

Fringe forwards James Hanson, Poutasi Luafutu and uncapped youngster Ed Quirk will make their first appearances of 2010 off the bench.

Former All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid was unable to recover from a knee injury and will miss the chance for a Reds farewell as will Melbourne-bound forwards Laurie Weeks (foot) and Adam Byrnes (ankle).

Only No.8 Leroy Houston, lock Van Humphries and blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham remain from Queensland's regular starting pack.

But McKenzie stressed the Reds, sitting seventh and with an unrealistic mathematical chance of making the play-offs, won't make any excuses.

Wallabies flyer Peter Hynes moves back to his Test position on the wing to accommodate back-up half Lucas at fullback.

"It's also a good reward for Ben who has been a great contributor to the team over the season without much opportunity - he's deserving of a go," McKenzie said.

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