Queensland Reds facing 'trauma' ahead of playoffs against stacked Chiefs

Familiar territory might trigger some “trauma” for Les Kiss but the Queensland Reds coach has backed his team to show how they’ve improved during his three seasons at the helm.

The Reds will play the Chiefs in a Saturday Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Hamilton.

It’s the side’s fifth-straight qualifying final appearance and second time in three years they’ll attempt to make history at FMG Stadium Waikato.

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Australian teams are 0-21 in Super Rugby finals played in New Zealand and the Reds haven’t come close in the last two, trailing 28-0 and 27-0 in eventual losses to the Chiefs and Crusaders under Kiss.

“Thanks for the trauma,” Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach in August, said of those slow starts.

“But we’re a team now that handles those things a lot better.”

Kiss can lean on the strides made in development, leadership, culture and positional depth but knows that’s not how his Ballymore tenure will be judged.

“The ‘W’ is the big thing in sport and that’s the true measure of success in a lot of ways,” he said.

“These boys are hungry for a win and want to take another step forward.

“That’s the mission. We’ve got to stand up and then let’s see.”

Queensland will be without Hunter Paisami (knee) and versatile forward Seru Uru (back), replaced by Filipo Daugunu in the centres and Joe Brial in the back row.

Hooker Josh Nasser and form fullback Jock Campbell, rested against Fijian Drua last week, are the other changes to the starting line-up with Matt Faessler and Treyvon Pritchard moved to the bench.

The Chiefs have recalled seven All Blacks, including flyhalf Damian McKenzie from concussion, captain Luke Jacobson in the back row and utility back Leroy Carter on the bench.

Sione Ahio is the only non-All Black in the Chiefs’ forward pack, with 10 of the starting 15 and half of the bench having worn the black shirt.

They have won 10 of their last 13 games against the Reds, including a 10-point defeat in Brisbane a month ago.

Wet, cold conditions are expected but Kiss is encouraged by his side’s improved set piece in recent weeks, helped by the return of lock Josh Canham.

“We’ve got a plan, got belief, got confidence, let’s go do it,” he said.

“It’s a big game for them as well, don’t forget. They don’t want to be a team that loses at home.

“We can scare them, that’s for sure. It’s got the makings of a classic contest.”