Having started in the Reds’ past two games – both of which were won by Queensland – Thomas has been dropped to the bench, with McDermott to instead wear the No.9 jersey in his side’s top-of-the table battle with the Chiefs in Waikato on Friday. As part of an agreement Rugby Australia has with Australian Super Rugby teams, Wallaby McDermott was rested for Queensland’s 29-23 away win over the Highlanders on March 22. He then returned to action via the bench in the Reds’ 28-24 victory over Western Force at Suncorp Stadium last Saturday. “I haven’t sat on the bench too often for the Reds, but it’s a role with the Wallabies I’m familiar with,” McDermott said. “Kalani played brilliantly over the last two weeks, and he’ll be disappointed to go back to the bench, but it’s something that we can really work together on. “He comes on the back-end of games, the last 20-30 minutes, and can really bring what he’s shown in the last two weeks to the game. “I’ve been really impressed with how he’s gone and how he’s impressed his side from a game point of view. “He’s getting better and better, and for me I’ve just got to keep working on my game. “I’ve been really happy with how I’ve gone this year. The team has been fantastic to be a part of. “There’s so much depth in so many positions, and (at halfback) not only with Kalani, but there Louis Werchon as well. There are three halfbacks, and we’re competing every day.” McDermott praised the Reds coaching staff for their management of the squad when it came to having to give Wallabies – including himself, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Seru Uru – rests this season. “It’s an interesting situation. Not often do you get asked to rest in Super Rugby, which is (a) relatively short (season),” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough of how the squad has handled it. The amount of depth and the positions changing here and there, but it’s very much a ‘next-man-up’ attitude, and that’s the expectation when you wear that maroon jersey. “You know that regardless of who you are, or what you’ve done, you’ve got to do your job for the team.” McDermott said the Reds faced an “exciting challenge” against a Chiefs team that has won 19 of its last 21 games at Waikato’s FMG Stadium, including quarter-final wins over Queensland in 2023 and 2024. “It’s been a couple of good weeks for us and we’re building,” he said. “The Chiefs have been playing some great footy, so who better to test ourselves against when it’s (teams) one and two (on the ladder)?”