The backrower entrusted with leading the Brad Thorn makeover on the field in Melbourne on Friday is committed to turning the Reds into winners for the first time since 2013.

You can question the hairstyle that Higginbotham has chosen as “Captain Mullet” but never the intense desire he shares with coach Thorn to shake up the Reds.

Not enough people know that Higginbotham re-signed for the Reds last year on a lower-level contract out of kilter with most players with 30-plus Tests behind them.

His deep urge to revive the Reds was part of it.

“The way things were going didn’t sit well with me,” said Higginbotham, a key weapon in the 2011 title team.

“I was really keen to help change the direction of the Reds because Queensland has always meant a lot to me even from Melbourne or when playing in Japan.

“I didn’t come back just to participate, I came back to compete and that’s what Thorny wants every week.”

REDS TEAM: Thorn’s monster gamble, Quade’s replacement

When pressed on just what was off at the Reds between 2013-16, Higginbotham said “complacency”, “a bit of off-field stuff” and “losing their wow factor” before backing off.

“You can’t really comment when you’re not involved but I can say it’s exciting right now with a lot of young guys who just want to play after all the hard work.”.

Youthful enthusiasm is worth only so much because new flyhalf Jono Lance must give the team sharp direction against the Rebels tonight.

If there is a worry, it’s that the Reds will run out of ideas after five phases or not be patient enough to keep pressuring the Rebels to force cracks.

The new-look Rebels are starting with 10 Test players but they are still relative strangers as teammates.

Thorn’s zealous work on swamping defence must force pushed passes, turnovers and chances.

“You can have the best players on paper but they’ve still got to get out there and play,” Higginbotham said.

That starts at the top too. Higginbotham was way too penalty prone as a rookie captain at the Rebels in 2013.

Aggressive new Melbourne skipper Adam Coleman now has to deal with that potential pitfall because his stance is: “I won’t be changing the style that’s got me to where I am.”

Higginbotham remembers when he first flipped from Queensland to the Rebels in 2013 and the playful sledging he copped from then-Reds stalwart Will Genia.

There will be some chirping with Genia playing as a Rebel for the first time.

“It probably won’t be the same lip as from him when I was wearing the red, white and blue (Rebels) jersey,” Higginbotham said with a laugh.

“It’s just great to see Will back playing in Australia and, yeah, it’s going to be important to take care of him (as a threat) around the ruck.”