The defending-champion Queensland Reds received a timely boost, ahead of their Super Rugby season opener against their arch rivals, the Waratahs, on Saturday.

Flank Scott Higginbotham returned from injury to start in their blockbuster Round One affair against the New South Wales outfit in Sydney.

Captain James Horwill will lead a team that features 15 players from last year's historic Super Rugby Final squad along with 10 capped Wallabies from 2011.
 
Higginbotham (back) missed the Reds' two trial victories against the Brumbies (27-20) and Western Force (40-10), but has since returned to full fitness to earn selection at blindside flank.
 
Hooker James Hanson and wing Dom Shipperley have earned deserved call-ups into the starting XV and will now gain an opportunity to solidify their positions with Saia Faingaa (ankle) and Rod Davies (hamstring) ruled out through injury.
 
Hanson will be joined by Ben Daley and James Slipper in the front row, while Horwill will partner lock Rob Simmons to round out the tight five.
 
Flank Beau Robinson will commence the match at No.7 against his former province, while Jake Schatz will get the opportunity to add to his 16 Queensland and Super Rugby caps at No.8.
 
Vice-captain Will Genia (No.9) will partner Mike Harris (No.10) at halfback, while Super Rugby Final centre pairing of Ben Tapuai and Anthony Faingaa will combine with a back three consisting of Digby Ioane and Dom Shipperley on the wings and Luke Morahan at fullback.
 
Coach Ewen McKenzie has opted for a forward heavy five-two split on the bench - with Greg Holmes, Albert Anae, Van Humphries, Radike Samo and Liam Gill joining versatile backs Ben Lucas and Jono Lance.
 
Humphries battled injury throughout 2011 and an elbow problem earlier in the preseason, but has timed his run perfectly to gain selection for Saturday with lock Adam Wallace-Harrison (knee) expected to miss a month.
 
"The new season has arrived and we're excited by the new series of challenges that ultimately come with that," McKenzie said.
 
"We can now stop looking back to last year and concentrate of what is ahead. 
 
"We've worked hard to reach the point we are at but we want to continue moving forward and elevating our play both from a team perspective and to continue giving our almost 30,000 members something to cheer about."
 
Queensland Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz,
7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Van Humphries, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Radike Samo, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Jono Lance.

23rd man: Chris F'Sautia

Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)