The University of Queensland will look to continue their winning start to 2021 when they take on Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval this Saturday. 

Souths showed plenty of promise in their last start defeat to competition heavyweights GPS, and they’ll need to build on that against the Heavies in front of their home crowd. 

Young winger Seb Hanna has been ruled out after a head knock last round, seeing KJ Lam come onto the wing. 

Experienced Souths fullback and captain Luke Samoa will come up against 18-year-old sensation Mac Grealy, in what should be an intriguing individual battle at the Nest. 

Sean Farrell, Brad Kelegai and Jack Farrell form an imposing backrow for the Magpies, with Theo Fourie another key player at hooker. 

Head coach Todd Dammers said his side is looking for more consistency around the park. 

“We haven’t really changed our focus much after the weekend,” Dammers said. 

“We are still looking for that consistency around our decision making. The process doesn’t change for us, we just need to keep improving the execution.

“UQ ask so many questions of your defensive systems and it is constant. That is why they have been so successful for so long. 

“We need to be prepared to keep our focus for the entire game. 

“There’s nothing better than a Saturday afternoon at Chipsy Wood with a big crowd against a club like UQ.”

After making his Super Rugby debut last month, scrumhalf Kalani Thomas will run on for his first start for UQ, doing battle with his former club for the first time. 

Will Roach will move to number-eight to accommodate the return of Sam Wallis, who made his Queensland debut alongside Thomas.

Watch the match live or on demand on Stan Sport from 3:05pm.