Queensland aren’t looking to defend their Super Rugby title this year, they’re out to win it back.

It might sound like semantics, but coach Ewen McKenzie believes the subtle difference in mindset is crucial to the Reds’ chances of overcoming the loss of Quade Cooper in the opening weeks and ultimately going back-to-back.

The Wallabies five-eighth will miss at least the first six rounds of the competition after his post-World Cup knee surgery, but McKenzie is excited by what either Mike Harris or Ben Lucas can bring to the table at No.10.

McKenzie says their years in the doldrums have made the Reds well and truly sick of being underdogs, and Queensland are embracing the challenge of being the team every other side wants to beat.

“We’re not interested in defending, we’re interested in going out there and winning it,” said McKenzie at the launch of the Super Rugby Australian Conference on Thursday in Sydney.

“Everyone else can have a different mindset, that’s our mindset.

“We (didn’t deliver) for so long … we want to go out there as a team everyone expects to win and we’ll take that load, it’s a good load to have.

“It’s much better than going out there and no one thinks you’re going to win – that’s a much harder space to operate in.”

McKenzie emphasised 37 players earned the Reds their maiden title last year, and the team wouldn’t be getting bogged down by Cooper’s absence.

He said in some ways the Reds might improve with a new man taking the reins as playmaker.

“They’ve got different skills and we might have to modify things a little bit but we’ll actually pick up strengths elsewhere and we get an element of surprise,” he said.

“We’re not worried about it because you’ve got to be positive for these guys who are getting a go.

“I’m excited about it, I want the players who are going to get the opportunity to be excited, so there’s no point losing all momentum and getting bogged down in it.

“We’re working with what we’ve got.”