Wallabies halfback Will Genia is inching closer to a return for the Reds.

Not that they desperately need him after an impressive performance by Nick Frisby in his first Super Rugby start in the No.9 jersey on Friday night when Queensland scored a 23-13 win over the Melbourne Rebels.

The quick 20-year-old played with poise and confidence and finished his first full game at halfback with a try.

Queensland director of coaching Ewen McKenzie said Genia was doing everything he could to return from his long-term knee injury against the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday night.

Reds skipper James Horwill (ankle) could also play but wasn’t “as close”.

McKenzie was impressed with what Frisby delivered after getting his start following a shoulder injury to Genia’s first-choice replacement Ben Lucas.

“He can create opportunities, we saw that with his try,” McKenzie said.

“He’s a pretty sharp runner and his passing’s pretty good.

“He’s been playing on the wing and all sorts of positions but he’s never actually had a full run at it so I was really happy for him.”

The win was the Reds’ third in succession and continued their clean sheet against the Rebels, who they have beaten in all five clashes.

McKenzie said it had been a tough start to the Super competition with a string of local derbies.

He wasn’t particularly impressed with the way the Reds were playing and felt their best football was still ahead of them.

“If you cannot play your best and still win that’s not a bad thing,” he said.

“We’re playing torrid games at the moment but we’re getting through them so I can’t complain about the character.

“We’ll ride it out and find our best form eventually.”

While the Reds host the Force next round, the Rebels have the bye before two games in South Africa.

They led at halftime for the third successive match only to fall again.

They hope to have Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale back to play the Sharks after he underwent hand surgery this week while No.8 Gareth Delve is also a chance to return from a shoulder injury for the South African tour.