FINAL-GAME warrior Greg Holmes has cast his vote for Nick Stiles as the best choice for the vacant Reds coaching job next season.

Prop Holmes and the broad shoulders that have pounded into thousands of scrums will sign off with his 146th Reds game on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Both the Reds and Melbourne Rebels are desperate for a win to ease the pain of the drubbings they endured last round when Kiwi rivals hit them with a combined total of 14 tries.

Flanker Liam Gill will step up as skipper for the first time in his own farewell game because

regular captain James Slipper (sternum) and Rob Simmons (AC joint) are both injured.

Holmes, 33, has been guided by seven Reds coaches since his 2005 debut when you include this year’s interim co-coaches Stiles and Matt O’Connor.

He had a cascading mushroom of hair in those early days when he’d rock up to training with his boots in one hand as if straight off the family’s potato farm at Allora.

“It’s funny because it has gone full circle from me playing with Stilesy at the Reds to him coaching me,” Holmes said.

“I think he’s one of the best forwards’ coaches going around.

“Obviously, he’s one of the head coaching candidates for next year and, personally, I hope he gets the job.”

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, the former All Black, Stiles and O’Connor are believed to still be on the final shorter, short list of candidates after a four-month process.

Stiles saluted Holmes as “an absolute stalwart of Queensland rugby” whose “ability to continue to work hard” was a beacon for a new generation of Reds front-rowers.

“What he’s done to help Sef Fa’agase, Taniela Tupou and Andrew Ready, three of our young props and hookers, is going to put them in good stead for seasons to come,” Stiles said.

“To think a tighthead prop can play that many games after sticking his head into so many dark places, continue to get better and be rewarded with last year’s World Cup is a testament to Holmsie’s character.”

Holmes, off to English club Exeter, was understated as ever about his mark which will be two caps short of Sean Hardman’s 148-cap Reds record.

“Personally, I’d just like to be remembered as a player who was very committed to Queensland, loved the place and was happy to play his whole career here,” Holmes said.

“People will look at next year as a building year but with the guys coming (George Smith and Stephen Moore), other names (Quade Cooper) bandied around and a core of good young guys, special things can happen in the next few seasons.”

When told flyhalf Cooper bid adieu to French club Toulon on Twitter, Holmes pepped up Reds fans by adding, “I don’t see why he wouldn’t return here.”

Tom Banks, a standout in Premier Rugby for University, will have a valuable chance to impress with his first start at fullback for injured Jack Tuttle (shoulder).

Queensland Reds v Melbourne Rebels

7:45pm, Friday, Suncorp Stadium

Reds team:

1. Sef Fa’agase

2. Andrew Ready

3. Greg Holmes

4. Cadeyrn Neville

5. Kane Douglas

6. Hendrik Tui

7. Liam Gill (c)

8. Curtis Browning

9. Nick Frisby

10. Duncan Paia’aua

11. Eto Nabuli

12. Henry Taefu

13. Samu Kerevi

14. Chris Kuridrani

15. Tom Banks

Reserves:

16. Saia Faingaa

17. Ben Daley

18. Taniela Tupou

19. Lukhan Tui

20. Michael Gunn

21. James Tuttle

22. Alex Gibbon

23. Campbell Magnay