The Reds have been rocked by news Digby Ioane has become the latest player to be ruled out Friday's clash against the Chiefs.
Versatile back to miss Chiefs clash
The Reds have been rocked by news Digby Ioane has become the latest player to be ruled out Friday's clash against the unbeaten Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Queensland franchise have already seen full-back Peter Hynes (finger dislocation) and wing Rod Davies (fractured cheekbone) sidelined.
And although coach Ewen McKenzie had been weighing up risking Ioane for the match, he has now decided to allow the versatile Wallaby back to rest his injured knee.
"The feeling is that it's better to get it right," said McKenzie.
"With the short turnaround and with the travel there were a lot of things conspiring against us to get him right for this weekend.
"There was an opportunity to leave it right until the game, but even then there would be some doubt, so we have left it so he can regain full fitness for the Western Force game.
"We've still got a lot of games to go. We could leave it right to the death and with no preparation go out there, but that could make the injury worse and we'd be having the same problem the week after."
Reserve backs Tim Walsh and Richard Kingi also miss the trip to Waikato, so McKenzie has called up Blair Connor, Ben Lucas, Luke Morahan, Brando Va'aulu and academy back Ben Tapuai to his squad.
