OUR greyhound Carlson Bale enjoyed a well-earned rest last week after a hat-trick of wins at Richmond over the past month.

Trainer Brendan Wheeler kept the budding superstar up to the mark with a solo trial at Bulli last Friday morning over 472m, where Carlson Bale recorded the handy time of 26.60sec.

He began the year as Queensland's third-choice halfback, but 20-year-old Ben Lucas has been anointed Australia's number one scrumhalf by Reds performance manager Ben Whitaker.

Whitaker didn't go as far as saying Lucas should play against Ireland when the international calendar starts on June 14, or even be included in the 30-man Wallabies squad named on Monday.

A FORLORN David Lyons is hoping the Waratahs can prolong the dream for another week because farewells are not supposed to be like this.

The Test No.8 was yesterday forced out of the Waratahs squad due to a hamstring strain and, with a contract with the Llanelli Scarlets after the Super 14 season, his time in the blue jersey will be over if NSW lose tonight.

>HAVING spent six years becoming an overnight sensation, Luke Burgess suddenly finds his ascension to George Gregan's throne as the Test halfback being challenged by another sensational No9 barely six games in the making.

That's how many starts Ben Lucas has had for Queensland and while it seems preposterous to suggest he might be named in front of Burgess when the first Wallabies side of the Robbie Deans era is announced on June 2, many a significant observer will be paying close attention to their clash in Saturday's Waratahs-Reds showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland Reds winger Digby Ioane will miss Saturday night's Super 14 derby against New South Wales after copping a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle.

Ioane was cited for his tackle on Crusaders centre Casey Laulala during Saturday's match at Lang Park.

Speaking on Total Football on Fox Sports last night, Milligan confirmed he was poised to sign with the Gunners and quit Sydney FC subject to obtaining a British work permit.

An Arsenal source said that Wenger saw Milligan as a potential straight replacement for French international Matthieu Flamini, who is bound for AC Milan next season.

BIG shoes await Scott Higginbotham after the Reds Academy backrower was named to make his Super 14 starting debut against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The 21-year-old former Australian Sevens player will fill in for former captain John Roe (shoulder) who joined a Reds injury list that still features skipper Sam Cordingley (calf).

Ask professional footballers about crucial moments from previous seasons, and they usually say it's all a bit of a blur. But ask them if they can recall the first time they touched the ball on debut, and their memory is crystal clear.

David Lyons has never forgotten what happened when, as a 19-year-old, he played his first game for the Waratahs, coming off the bench against the Stormers in Cape Town in 2000.

Research in England has found teams wearing red are more successful then those adorned in yellow, white and tellingly blue, given that's the colour of the Bulls team they will meet in the Super 14 clash on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

According to the study by scientists at Durham and Plymouth universities, of the top 68 sides in the English football leagues, teams in red historically win more often at home. Olympic competitors decked out in red are also statistically more likely to taste success.

REDS coach Phil Mooney yesterday likened new wing weapon Digby Ioane to David Campese for his glory-or-bust skill that will both thrill and frustrate in 2008.

It was the highest of compliments ahead of a far more realistic Super 14 measure of this Reds team against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.