Reds retain Japan stars for Sunwolves

Tui and Goromaru have been retained in the starting XV which features just one change from the run-on team that endured a 14-29 loss at the hands of the Hurricanes in Round 12.

Lock Cadeyrn Neville returns to the starting side with Ben Matwijow shifting to the bench as a result.

Reds co-interim head coach Matt O'Connor stated that his side is excited to be back home following their two away matches in New Zealand.

"We are excited to be back home at Suncorp Stadium in front  of our home fans after two away games in New Zealand. We need to learn the lessons from the Crusaders and Hurricanes games and ensure we put out a season's best 80-minute performance.

"We've managed to keep a fairly consistent side throughout the season and this weekend is no different.

"Ben has been doing a fantastic job in his starting role for a number of weeks, but we have the benefit of being able to bring in a guy like Cadeyrn, who is a talented footballer and gets an opportunity this weekend.

"The Sunwolves are a quality outfit who were unlucky not to beat the Stormers last week and had a great win over the Jaguares recently in Tokyo," he stated.

The Reds host the Sunwolves in what is the Japanese side's first clash on Australian soil since joining Super Rugby for the 2016 season.

Reds: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 Matt Mafi, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ben Matwijow, 20 Michael Gunn, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Junior Laloifi.

Date: Saturday, May 21

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kick-off: 15.05, 05.05 GMT, 14.05 Japan time

Referee: Will Houston

Assistant referees: Andrew Lees, Nic Berry

TMO: Damien Mitchelmore