Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham says his eleventh-hour selection surprise against the Waratahs will be the last time he alters his side’s backline until playmaker Quade Cooper makes his return from injury.

In what appeared to be an attempt to catch the Super Rugby title-holders off guard, the Reds made a swathe of positional switches just prior to Saturday night’s emphatic 23-5 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

James O’Connor was moved to fullback, Lachie Turner to the wing and Chris Feauai-Sautia to outside centre while Nick Frisby was again deployed at flyhalf and Ben Tapuai dropped to the bench.

The changes didn’t reap rewards but Graham said he will stick with that backline for the time being – unless injury or suspension dictates otherwise.

“We’ve had that many changes in the backs – the only two constants have been Genia and Kuridrani over the first three games,” Graham said.

“At some point you’ve got to settle on a backline.

“I made a very conscious decision when James O’Connor didn’t train on Monday to say this is going to be the backline, and we’re going to stay with this backline for the next couple of weeks and give them an opportunity to get better together.”

Cooper is due to return from his collarbone injury around the time of Queensland’s round seven match against the Lions.

Graham said he was “really pleased” with Frisby’s fill-in job at No.10, a jersey which has also been worn by by Karmichael Hunt and O’Connor since Cooper went down in pre-season.

“He obviously found it difficult at times and the longer the game went the deeper he got,” he said.

“To be fair to him he didn’t get a lot of opportunities because we couldn’t hold onto the ball past three or four phases.”

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said he paid little attention to the Reds’ attempted selection gambit.

“I know there was some talk about James and playing 10, but we really just tried to look at what we were doing,” he said.

“Nick Frisby’s doing a really good job for them as a halfback playing five-eighth … but they’re not having a lot of luck with injuries, and that can only affect you.”

The one pre-match change that was forced on Queensland was James Horwill, who had a back spasm and was withdrawn for Marco Kotze.

Graham said it was likely that Horwill will be right to face the Brumbies in Brisbane next week, but their two other casualties on Saturday night may not be so lucky.

Captain James Slipper will undergo x-rays to determine the extent of a neck injury, while Turner (concussion) was stretchered off after an ugly collision with Waratahs captain Dave Dennis.

“He copped a pretty big hit, I saw him in the changerooms earlier on and he’s up and around,” Slipper said.

“He seems alright, it’s not what you want to see but the good thing is his welfare is good.”