Queensland coach Mark McBain says star recruit Wendell Sailor is not guaranteed a spot in the side for the opening Super 12 clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 23.
Wallaby winger Ben Tune is likely to take one wing with Sailor in a three-way battle with former Wallaby Damian Smith and Australian Sevens representative Ricky Nalatu for the other wing. Smith is returning from a broken leg suffered during last year's Super 12 , while Nalatu impressed in 2001.
Queensland meets a Queensland Presidents XV on Friday night, but the Australia Rugby Union has told Reds officials to restrict Sailor's time on the field so he is fresh to represent Australia in the World Sevens at Ballymore over the following two days.
"Wendell is going well, there's no flies on him," McBain told the Daily Telegraph. "But Nalatu played very strongly against NSW last October and Smithy is putting up his hand as well.
"There's four blokes there for two wing positions and when you consider Tune has one of them, the other three are left to battle it out. Wendell has been learning the ropes and he's very keen. He's been having kicking lessons twice a week, he's had a bit of work on his passing and he's been learning what to do in defence.
'At the moment, he's coming along well, but you never really know until you actually start playing the games."
McBain said Sailor would be given 20 minutes on Friday night.