The Queensland Reds are reeling after announcing Lachie Turner will be sidelined for five weeks due to ankle surgery.

The Reds back missed last round’s loss to the Western Force but the 11th-placed Queenslanders had been hopeful he would be fit for a crunch clash with the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

However, the Reds revealed on Tuesday that Turner would not be considered until round 14 after he underwent clean up surgery on loose ankle cartilage.

It is a body blow for the Reds who line up against a Brumbies side still smarting from a season opening loss and determined to deliver Queensland their first back-to-back home defeats since 2009.

“It is disappointing to lose Lachie (Turner). He has been playing very well and has offered some versatility among the back three,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.

“He suffered a fracture and dislocation of his ankle in early 2013. Unfortunately some cartilage has come loose in the same ankle and is irritating the joint.”

Turner joins a Reds injury list that already boasts Liam Gill (hamstring, five weeks), Ben Daley (knee, two weeks), Samu Kerevi (ankle, two weeks), Chris Kuridrani (ankle, five weeks), Dom Shipperley (hip flexor, two weeks) and Aidan Toua (pectoral, 12 weeks).

“We have a few boys out with injury at the moment but we are fortunate to have Chris (Feauai-Sautia) and Saia (Fainga’a) returning from injury and available for selection this week,” Graham said.