Slipper gets call to become Queensland enemy in Reds homecoming

Slipper is in contention to be injected into the Brumbies' starting front row as part of a rotation with Scott Sio, giving him the chance to run on to his former stomping ground a decade after his Queensland Reds debut.

The former Reds skipper became a Queensland outcast last year when coach Brad Thorn decided not to pick him after Slipper twice tested positive to cocaine.

Slipper won a Super Rugby title with the Reds in 2011 and played 105 games for the club he captained, but his devastating exit opened the door for the 29-year-old to link with the Brumbies.

Now he will be trying to help the Brumbies win in Brisbane for the first time since 2014 and is set for a clash against scrum beast, Taniela "Tongan Thor" Tupou in the front row.

Tupou has become the Reds' biggest weapon and the damaging 135 kilogram battering ram will give Slipper a chance to test himself after they were both invited to a Wallabies training camp last week.

Slipper was a part of the Reds' 18-10 win against the Brumbies last year, but will be wearing different colours for the first time on his home turf.

"He's been fantastic, I can't speak highly enough of the way [Slipper] has approached his preparation and his footy," said Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano.

"He's a really experienced player coming into a new environment and he's just excelled. The young guys and even Scott Sio have really benefited from working alongside him and seeing how he operates.

"I've been stoked with how he's performing for us and I'm really glad he's on our team this year [instead] of the Reds. It will probably be special for him heading up to where he's played all of his footy ... he's spoken about creating a new chapter and I'm glad he's with us."

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will name his team on Friday afternoon and it is expected Allan Alaalatoa (wrist), David Pocock (calf) and Rob Valetini (knee) will be ruled out.

The good news for Brumbies fans is Alaalatoa and Pocock's absence means the pair will have filled their required resting period for the year under an agreement with the Wallabies.

Test coach Michael Cheika has asked Super Rugby coaches to monitor the workload of key players this season, including resting Pocock and Alaalatoa for at least two games each.

Time on the sideline because of injuries will count as rest weeks, meaning the pair will be free to play every game for the rest of the season.

McKellar has been juggling the need to build winning momentum with injury disruptions and a desire to use his player depth to rotate his starting side.

But injuries to Pocock and Valetini, who will miss up to two months, are putting a strain on the back-row stocks.

Pete Samu will likely be added to the starting XV to fill the hole left by Valetini and Tom Cusack will continue his job as the openside flanker.

Blake Enever, Murray Douglas and Jahrome Brown, who the Brumbies recruited from New Zealand, will come into contention as second-row and back-row back ups against the Reds.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX

Sunday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.