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Melbourne coach Dave Wessels has named two openside flankers in his back row as they look to shut down the Reds' attacking trio in Saturday's Super Rugby final.

The Melbourne Rebels are putting the Queensland Reds as well as referee Nic Berry on notice about their breakdown expectations in Saturday's Super Rugby AU grand final qualifier.

The underdog Rebels will roll the dice with two openside flankers in Richard Hardwick and Brad Wilkin in their back row, leaving regular No.6 Michael Wells out of the Suncorp Stadium clash.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels says they see the Queensland back row of Wallabies-in-waiting Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson, and skipper Liam Wright, who made his Test debut last year, as a major attacking threat.

"We think the Reds back row is a primary threat so we've elected to play two sevens there," Wessels said on Thursday.

"Some of the stuff they've done around the breakdown gives them a lot of energy and Fraser McReight has made a big difference.

"We've picked two sevens to put some pressure on the ball ourselves with Brad Wilkin playing really well and Dickie (Richard) Hardwick probably had the best game I'd seen him play last week so it's hard not to pick those guys."

Wessels said he had some concerns about the Reds breakdown that he had "flagged" to Berry, while he also singled out their Test prop Taniela Tupou for his scrummaging.

"There's some stuff around the breakdown that we want them to keep an eye on," he said.

"There are some definite trends in the way the Reds play and everybody knows that Taniela Tupou is the most penalised guy in 2020 in Super Rugby.

"We want to paint pictures that help the ref make the right decisions in those areas.

"Taniela is a very good player and when he does things legally we are happy to have a fair contest with him and that's all we are asking for."

The Reds have their tails up after trouncing the Brumbies, who will host next week's grand final, and are hoping to have up to 20,000 home fans on their side.

Playing in their first ever final, Wessels says his team have nothing to lose after a season on the road.

"We are always the underdogs - we have to scrap and fight for everything and that's what makes it so rewarding when you have little successes," he said.

"We said right at the start of this comp ... the team that's going to win this is the team that handles the curve balls best.

"There's still some twists and turns ahead and the team that handles it the best is going to win it."

In other selection changes, winger Andrew Kellaway has returned while Frank Lomani will start at halfback with James Tuttle injured.

Rampaging prop Pone Fa'amausili has again been left out as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty, Andrew Kellaway, Reece Hodge, Bill Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua (capt), Frank Lomani, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Brad Wilkin, Trevor Hosea, Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr. Res: Efi Ma'afu, Matt Gibbon, Cabous Eloff, Michael Stolberg, Rob Leota, Theo Strang, Andrew Deegan, Campbell Magnay.