Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss is backing their 'measured' approach towards Tom Lynagh's return as the Wallabies flyhalf remains on the sidelines.
Lynagh was not named for Friday's match against the Highlanders as he continues his return from injury.
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It comes after a disrupted 2025 season that included several concussions and a hamstring issue.
With Carter Gordon fit and available, Kiss is comfortable with the call to hold back the 22-year-old for at least another week, potentially coming back for next Saturday's blockbuster with the ACT Brumbies.
"We've been very measured with it," Kiss explained. "There's a lot of work that's gone into making sure that this can continue when he comes back.
"He's getting closer and closer, at a push maybe next week [against the Brumbies].
"We just want to make the strong decision that is right for him and right for the team. He's good."
Lynagh did not feature across the pre-season trials, telling Rugby.com.au he was comfortable with the conservative approach.
“The body has been fine, it’s just all about taking a different approach to how we do things with the hamstring injuries via strength training in order to deal with the loads that go through training and matches to keep me on the field for a lot longer," he said at the start of the month.
“We’re trying to get that balance...You just have to trust what the physios say but after a while, there was still something lingering in there until back in December so I was on hold there for quite a while
“I was still training hard but not to the intensity of a normal training week, and then I had another issue with my back that contributed to it, but all this strength training that had disappeared, and it’s a lot better.”
Kiss has named four further Wallabies to return alongside Gordon, including Test skipper Harry Wilson at number eight.
