Reds quartet has the chance to tackle British and Irish Lions

REDS quartet Luke Morahan, Ben Daley, Greg Holmes and Beau Robinson are in the hunt for a Lions tour bonus.

Luke Morahan

REDS Luke Morahan, Ben Daley, Greg Holmes and Beau Robinson are in the hunt for a Lions tour bonus through their eligibility to play for the Combined NSW-Queensland Country side.

The Country team will be picked on an "origin" basis and include Super Rugby players for the first time to guarantee the highest quality line-up for the June 11 clash with the British and Irish Lions in Newcastle.

The Reds play the "fourth Test" of the tour against the Lions three days earlier in Brisbane but the prospect still exists for selected Queenslanders to be named for the Newcastle game.

The quartet seem certain to be included in a 40-strong preliminary squad next week, but the puzzle is who will fit the jigsaw when a 22-man match squad is finalised.

Prop Holmes is as country as the potatoes from his family's farm at Allora while flanker Beau Robinson is fiercely proud of his Dubbo roots.

Fullback Morahan and prop Daley were schooled on the Gold Coast, which is considered a country region.

If all have frontline roles in the Reds-Lions game, which will be minus Wallabies, the squad will likely catch Sunshine Coast-bred lock Blake Enever and Gold Coast-reared flanker Jarrad Butler.

The origin concept is a shrewd one because it means willing amateurs from the bush will play beside Super Rugby-toughened country stock.

Wallabies forward Ben McCalman (Warren), Sam Carter (Quirindi), Angus Roberts (Gunnedah), Pat McCutcheon (Narromine) and Nic White (Newcastle) are others with country backgrounds.

"A lot of guys started in the bush before they headed to the big smoke so I think it's a positive they don't lose the right to represent country rugby," Combined Country coach Cam Blades said.

Queensland Country Heelers coach Garrick Morgan was part of a five-way phone hook-up with Blades this week to make sure the best country amateurs were recognised.

Morahan's roller-coaster season will be on the upswing again in Bloemfontein on Sunday morning (Qld time) when he seems certain to start at fullback for the Reds.

The inclusion of a running fullback to replace the injured Jono Lance (shoulder) is an interesting pointer because the Cheetahs feature an attacking style, especially with the selection of Elgar Watts at flyhalf.

Reds lock James Horwill is fit to lead the side after a week off for a head knock.

"We expect the Cheetahs to move us around and try to tire us (at high altitude) but we're ready," coach Ewen McKenzie said.