The Australian Rugby Union is set to soften Queensland's troubling loss of in-form flanker Beau Robinson by recalling Reds rookie Liam Gill from the world under-20 tournament in Italy.
In a major blow to the Reds, Robinson is in doubt for the rest of the Super Rugby season after being booked in for arthroscopic surgery on the elbow dislocated in Sunday's 17-16 triumph over the Crusaders.
Queensland still hold hope the ball-scavenger could return before the playoffs in four weeks, with scans suggesting he faces a best-case scenario of three to five weeks out.
But with the other two players the Reds have used at No.7 this year, Gill and Ed Quirk, overseas with the Australian under-20s, they're desperate to have specialist open-side cover until the workaholic Robinson returns.
Gill and Quirk flew out just before Sunday's kick-off and the chances are one will get straight back on a plane home to line up against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
