Reds could lose Schifcofske

QR Queensland Reds fullback Clinton Schifcofske has a suspected broken hand and could be forced to miss next Friday night‘s Investec Super 14 match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Schifcofske will have x-rays todayto determine whether he sustained afracture in last night‘s 26-20 loss to the Lions at Suncorp Stadium.

Should he be forced out, new recruit Andrew Walker would come into consideration for the fullback role.

The Reds fly out for Dunedin early on Tuesday morning to prepare for their match against the ninth placed Highlanders.

The Reds willhave two players come back into calculations in winger/centre Peter Hynes (ankle) and centre Lloyd Johansson (suspension).

However winger Henari Veratau has a hip flexor strain and will be reassessed tomorrow. Centre Andrew Brown (ribs) will have a scan this week to assess his progress.

Prop Ben Coutts, who was a late withdrawal last night when he dislocated his shoulder in the pre-match warm-up, will not be fit to play this weekend. Queensland‘s Wallaby prop Greg Holmes will have a shoulder operation tomorrow and will miss the remainder of the Super 14 series.

Reds Academy prop Gavin Warren, who was taken off the field on a stretcher as a precaution after being injured in a scrum soon after coming on as a replacement, is fit to play this weekend but is not expected to come into consideration for inclusion in the tour squad.