Centre Anthony Faingaa will captain a 28-strong Queensland Reds squad boasting 11 Wallabies in their opening Super Rugby trial against the Blues at Toowoomba on Saturday night.

Faingaa beat a host of contenders vying for the captaincy reins with Wallabies skipper James Horwill (hamstring) still regaining fitness and halfback Will Genia (knee) sidelined.

Faingaa will chime into a near full strength backline featuring playmaker Quade Cooper – six days before he makes his professional boxing debut.

Cooper will combine with Ben Lucas in the halves, Faingaa and Ben Tapuai are in the centres, Luke Morahan and Digby Ioane on the wings and Mike Harris at fullback.

Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie said he searching for balance in his side.

“There is always a delicate balance in choosing a trial team and it’s important we get our selections right,” McKenzie said.

“The inclusion of so many Wallabies is about being sure we are ready to play the Brumbies in round one.

“We’ve only got two trials before our opening Super Rugby game and we need to get the most out of them.

“Every year there is any number of young players that use these trial games to push their case for selection and by the end of the season become established household names.”

McKenzie is hopeful Horwill will return for the Reds’ second and last trial against 2012 championship-winning Chiefs on February 8 – the same day Cooper makes his boxing debut.

Cooper has been juggling rugby with sparring as he prepares for his much anticipated bout with seasoned fighter Barry Dunnett on the undercard of sport-hopping good mate Sonny Bill Williams’ heavyweight stoush with South African Francois Botha at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Reds squad: Mike Harris, Luke Morahan, Anthony Faingaa (capt), Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Radike Samo, Eddie Quirk, Nigel Ah Wong, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Blake Enever, Jono Owen, James Hanson, Albert Anae. Interchange: Curtis Browning, Jarrad Butler, Rod Davies, Saia Faingaa, Nick Frisby, Liam Gill, Greg Holmes, Jono Lance, Tom Murday, UJ Seuteni, James Slipper, Rex Tapuai, Aidan Toua.