The Reds hope a reunion of dual premiership-winning former players Brad Thorn and Peter Ryan in the Queensland coaching set-up will help unlock the battling side's potential in Super Rugby next year.

Ryan is set to be announced as the side's new defence coach on Thursday, joining Ballymore favourite and returned attack coach Jim McKay to bolster the experience around the highly rated but inexperienced Thorn.

Credentials: Peter Ryan won two NRL premierships with the Broncos and a Super 12 title with the Brumbies before turning to coaching. Credit:Graham Tidy

Thorn and Ryan are two of only four players to win NRL and Super Rugby titles, Thorn with the Broncos and Crusaders, and Ryan with the Broncos and Brumbies. They played together in Brisbane in the '90s then found themselves coaching against each other this year, Thorn in his first year as head coach with Queensland and Ryan as defence coach with the Brumbies.

The former Maroons and Brumbies player, who served as an assistant with the Broncos and Cowboys upon retirement, adds even more experience to what is shaping as one of the most impressive coaching rosters in Australia. Former Rebels and Munster coach and Wallabies assistant Tony McGahan will be unveiled as the new Reds Academy head coach this week, while Queensland veteran and former Wallabies winger Paul Carozza will move to a new role as the Academy's head of talent management.