Surprise promotions to abrasive hooker James Hanson and powerhouse forward Radike Samo have signalled Queensland will muscle up and throw everything at the Stormers' defence at Newlands.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has rewarded Hanson and Samo for their impact off the bench with their first run-on starts of the Super Rugby season in Sunday morning's (AEST) top-of-the-table clash which is all the talk of Cape Town.

The Reds have woken up to successive back page headlines in the Cape Times newspaper, firstly with former coach Eddie Jones backing the Stormers to smash them in the set pieces and then Thursday with accusations of cheating.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee sent a transparent message to rookie referee Jaco Peyper by accusing Queensland of obstructing defenders, allowing Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper more time and space to create line breaks.

"They're a streetwise side, using tactics like illegal blocking and subtle holding," Coetzee told the newspaper. "Quade Cooper loves to throw the inside pass, which is highly effective, especially if defenders are being held back.

"I won't be talking to the referee about it though."

Jones, who coached the Reds to the wooden-spoon in 2007, was quoted saying the Stormers would win the battle up front to keep their unbeaten record intact.

"The Stormers will outscrum the Reds and (Springbok lock) Andries Bekker will dominate the lineout," said the former Wallabies coach.

McKenzie, set to back his side's up-tempo attacking game firstly over a more conservative field-position approach, and his players were not surprised.

"We've had the double-whammy," McKenzie told AAP. "It's all over billboards here.

"But we're not motivated by that (proving them wrong). We're really motivated by the opportunity."

While the unbeaten and pace-setting Stormers named an unchanged team, McKenzie made nine alterations to his starting team, reshuffling his backline as well as ringing a handful of changes to his forward pack.

Most of the tweaking is designed to unlock the home side's brick-wall defensive line which has conceded just four tries in six matches, with Hanson and Samo

Fringe Wallabies hooker Saia Faingaa has been hampered by a knee problem, but McKenzie said former Australian Under-20 rake Hanson deserved his chance.

"It's a great opportunity for him and he's been one of our unsung heroes, coming off the bench and doing an outstanding job playing 30-35 minutes each week," he said.

Like Hanson, Fiji-born veteran Samo, chosen in a restructured back-row, is a destructive and skilful ball-runner and will be given the job to break the line and off-load.

"We figure with the quality of the Stormers defence a big guy like Radike who can really play and take the ball to the line will serve us well in a pretty physical encounter," McKenzie said.

As expected, Kiwi recruit Mike Harris has been switched from fullback to act as a second playmaker beside Cooper at inside centre, triggering a backline reshuffle which will see Luke Morahan, a 2012 Brumbies target, start in his preferred position at fullback.

Tight-five regulars Ben Daley and Rob Simmons return to the starting side while former Test prop Guy Shepherdson will make his Reds debut off the bench.

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