Zac Lomax’s latest setback has paved the way for a “hell of an introduction” in Fiji next weekend.

The ex-NSW State of Origin representative was set to make his professional rugby debut for the Western Force against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Lomax had been named on the reserves bench, but the Force announced an hour before kick-off he was ruled out because of hamstring tightness.

The Force went on to upset the Reds with a 42-19 bonus-point win.

“Sorry about that,” Force coach Simon Cron said of the Lomax anti-climax.

“If we put him away down an edge, he’s going to sprint and it’s too high of a risk [so] I pulled him.”

Cron may have no choice but to select Lomax in his starting XV for the Force’s next match against Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday.

The Force lost both starting wingers Dylan Pietsch (foot) and Darby Lancaster (ankle) to injury against the Reds.

“It’s still in play,” Cron said of Lomax’s potential debut in Fiji.

“It’d be a hell of an introduction for him. The Drua … big, powerful, strong. So is he, but it’d be a baptism.”

Lomax walked away from his lucrative Parramatta Eels NRL contract with the intention of joining R360, only for the rebel league to delay its first season.

His subsequent bid to join the Melbourne Storm was blocked before he signed with Rugby Australia on a two-year deal.

AAP