Wayne Smith | April 28, 2009

No matter how well Digby Ioane performs against Stirling Mortlock in the final Australian derby of the season in Brisbane on Saturday, Queensland Reds' coach Phil Mooney can't see him unseating Australia's captain at outside centre in the Wallabies.

While the clash of hookers, former Queensland stalwart turned Brumbies hero Stephen Moore against his long-time Reds team-mate Sean Hardman-- who will become Queensland's most capped player - will be the emotional highlight of the match, it will be the collision of Ioane and Mortlock at outside centre that has most significance.

Ioane, nominated by Brumbies' coach Andy Friend as the Reds player his side must contain if it is to keep alive its semi-final hopes, has been the stand-out Australian player in this year's Super 14, save arguably for Matt Giteau.

While he might not singlehandedly have masterminded victories as Giteau has done for the Western Force, Ioane has been almost unstoppable at times. But whether that translates into an immediate call-up to the Wallabies Test side, either at outside centre or wing, remains to be seen.

Certainly Mooney feels that protocol needs to be observed, especially with the early-season Wallabies selections.

"I think players like Stirling and Lote Tuqiri have the runs on the board over many seasons," said Mooney. "So I'd expect they'd be given the chance first-up. After that, it's up to them."

It could be, of course, that Ioane is not being considered by Australia's selectors as a direct rival to Mortlock, especially as the Force's Ryan Cross has surged back into form at outside centre to provide real depth in the position.

If that is the case and Ioane is tossed into the mix as a winger, he could well be challenging his own Reds team-mate Peter Hynes for a Test position.