The ex-Kangaroo starts on the left wing against defending champions the ACT Brumbies at their Bruce Stadium home in Canberra.

Sailor, 27, was a high-profile recruit from the 13-man game when he joined the Reds late last year from the Brisbane Broncos.

He signed off a highly successful league career with two tries for Australia in their 2000 World Cup final victory over New Zealand in Manchester.

The match should signal the start of what the Australian Rugby Union hopes will be a successful transition for Sailor into the Wallabies team.

Queensland have also opted for Fijian Test player Jacob Rauluni over Wallabies reserve scrum half Sam Cordingley in the number nine jersey.

Sean Hardman will fill the hooking vacancy created by the retirement of Test veteran hooker Michael Foley.

The side will be captained by Wallaby centre Daniel Herbert, who takes over from World Cup-winning skipper John Eales, who has also retired.

Herbert believes the Reds are primed to go one better than last season, when they lost to the Brumbies at the semi final stage.

"I think we've got the depth now and possibly a stronger team than we had last year," he said.

"I see no reason why we can't be there at the end. This weekend will probably give us more of an indication of where we are and how far we've come."

Queensland: 15-Chris Latham; 14-Ben Tune, 13-Daniel Herbert (captain), 12-Steve Kefu, 11-Wendell Sailor; 10-Elton Flatley, 9-Jacob Rauluni; 8-Toutai Kefu, 7-David Croft, 6-Matt Cockbain, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Mark Connors; 3-Glenn Panoho, 2-Sean Hardman, 1-Nick Stiles.