Reds aim up for Super Rugby chance

Tate McDermott isn't one for broken promises, with the Queensland halfback adamant the Reds won't be repeating themselves on Friday night.

A crucial last-start defeat of the Sharks in Durban has the young side just one win behind Super Rugby conference leaders Melbourne (5-4).

The Reds host Tokyo's Sunwolves (2-8) at Suncorp Stadium, before games against the Rebels and Waratahs (4-5) McDermott sees as a "massive opportunity".

But, while buoyed by the side's breakthrough in South Africa, the 20-year-old has been around long enough to hear it all before.

"A lot of times this year we've said 'that performance was a line in the sand'," he said of sporadic victories against the Sunwolves, Brumbies and Stormers.

"And a lot of times we haven't actually backed it up ... this (Friday) is the line in the sand for us in terms of our season.

"We've spoken a little bit about finals; we want to be the team that stops making those promises and actually delivers."

The speedy but steady McDermott has started ahead of Moses Sorovi in the five games since his clutch cameo in a comeback defeat of the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

The Brumbies and Waratahs both let wins slip in the last round and McDermott, who watches every game he can, knows they must make the most of that after enjoying a bye last weekend.

"For a young group this is a massive opportunity for us," he said.

"There's a lot of belief and a lot of excitement because there's something there to be salvaged."