Wallabies star Quade Cooper will be a shock starter in his long-awaited return from a knee reconstruction for the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.

Cooper was named on Wednesday to start at five-eighth in the Super Rugby clash with the lowly Lions at Suncorp Stadium, opening the door for a possible return to the Wallabies during next month’s three-Test series against Wales.

The 24-year-old has only just returned to full contact training this week, seven months after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Wales in the World Cup bronze play-off in New Zealand.

“It has been a long six-plus months on the sideline and I know I have done everything I can to tick all the boxes during my rehab,” said Cooper.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said he’d decided to start Cooper rather than introducing him via the bench as he was unsure how long his match fitness would last.

Cooper admitted an injury scare after playing a game of touch football last month had set him back at least a week but he felt the enforced rest afterwards had been invaluable.

Cooper’s return means stand-in playmaker Ben Lucas shifts to fullback with the in-form Luke Morahan demoted to the bench.

McKenzie made two other changes to the starting side that upset the Chiefs 42-27 on Sunday with front rowers Greg Holmes and Saia Faingaa replacing Ben Daley and James Hanson.

Teenage three-quarter prospect Chris F’sautia is set to make his super Rugby debut off the bench.

Queensland Reds: Ben Lucas, Dom Shipperley, Anthony Faingaa, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes. Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Eddie Quirk, Nick Frisby, Chris F’sautia, Luke Morahan.