The baby-faced assassin of the Queensland Reds - Leroy Houston - admits he will be be a touch star-struck when he collides with powerhouse Chief Sione Lauaki in Hamilton on Saturday.

Not that it means he will be taking a backwards step when he confronts the imposing All Black number eight. As only the affable Houston can put it: "We'll have a crack, mate."

Houston, a junior rugby dynamo who represented Australia at Under 19 and 21 level, is finally starting to hit his straps as he "finds his feet" in his second incarnation as a Super 14 player.

The first time around was less of a success for the Auckland-born wrecking ball. He signed with the Waratahs but walked away from the game at the end of 2006, with the pressure proving too much for the then 19-year-old, who toured with the Wallabies before playing in the Super 14.

During that season, he went AWOL from the Waratahs twice to visit his family in New Zealand before asking for a formal release to cool his heels out of the game.

The move didn't go down well with some fans, who gave Houston a thorough rubbishing on internet rugby chat rooms.

"I do not feel sorry for him and nor do I want to see someone with that type of character play for the Waratahs," one disgruntled fan wrote.

"How much effort and time did they put into him to make him the player that he is? And to just freaking walk away from such an opportunity? GROW UP!"

Consider Houston grown up. He's back with a vengeance, proving a nightmare at the breakdown and ready to rumble against one of his rugby idols in the toughest road trip in the Super 14.

"They've got some All Black stars in there who I'm keen to play. Lauaki- the big number eight - he'll set a big test for me. All the boys are up for the challenge," the 21-year-old said.

"I've been looking at these players all my life. I've been watching them on TV - I'm a bit star-struck. But at the same time I love to play them."

Houston was one of Queensland's standouts in last week's win over the Western Force. He said the Reds had their tail in the air but would be on cloud nine if they could find a way to dethrone the Chiefs, who claimed the biggest scalp in the game with a win over the Crusaders last weekend.

"(Confidence) It's up there. We tend to back off a bit after we have a good performance. If we can back this up, our confidence will be out of here!" Houston said, followed by his characteristic laugh.

"We'll have a crack mate. Definitely. Can't say no. We're physically ready for them. We just have to get our mental state ready for them."

Houston's resurgent form has him being mentioned as a potential Wallaby. Certainly if the team was selected on enthusiasm and raw talent, he would be the first picked. It's hard to believe there's a more likeable player lacing up the boots.

But smiles won't get you far on the field, a place where Houston feels more at home than ever.

According to Reds coach Phil Mooney, Houston's recent form is merely the tip of the iceberg since his return from rugby's wilderness.

"His game against the Force was very good but realistically, we're just scratching the surface. We get him fitter and he becomes accustomed to playing rugby again, he's a fantastic player," Mooney said.

"Leroy was a guy who came here with a pretty stellar junior career who hadn't played rugby for a couple of years. We always new he was a quality player and would get better as the season progressed. And that's exactly as it turns out."

Houston has backed team-mate Quade Cooper to rebound from his nightmare effort at Suncorp Stadium last year, where he was bullied by the Chiefs and dropped seven balls cold.

"I heard last year they gave Quade a bit of niggle. He'll show them 'what up' this year," Houston said.

In team news, prop Rodney Blake has been recalled to the starting side to add some grunt but skipper Sam Cordingley (calf) has failed to overcome injury. Young lock James Horwill retains the captaincy.

Winger Digby Ioane returns from a broken finger sustained on the South African tour and will start on the bench.

Queensland Reds Clinton Schifcofske, Brando Va'aulu, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, David Croft, John Roe, James Horwill (c), Van Humphries, Rodney Blake, Stephen Moore, Ben Coutts. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Dayna Edwards, Ed O'Donoghue, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Charlie Fetoai, Digby Ioane.