The Queensland Reds have suffered a double blow ahead of their Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night with key men Digby Ioane and Liam Gill ruled out.

Rising flanker Gill has succumbed to a hamstring injury sustained in the 32-12 win over the Melbourne Rebels while Wallabies winger Ioane will miss his second match in a row due to pneumonia.

Beau Robinson replaces Gill in the Reds back-row while Australian Under-20 three-quarter Chris F’Sautia remains on the wing after overcoming a shoulder injury he copped in his run-on debut against the Rebels.

Queensland, sitting seventh on the table heading into the second-last round, have been bolstered by the return of centre Ben Tapuai from a broken collarbone and the one-Test Wallaby will sit on the bench.

Young back-rower Jarrad Butler is poised to make his Super Rugby debut after also being selected as a reserve.

Queensland: Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Anthony Faingaa, Mike Harris, Chris F’Sautia, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (capt); Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes. Res: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Radike Samo, Jarrad Butler, Ben Lucas, Ben Tapuai, Nick Frisby.