If the 787 starts replacing the A380 on some of the current long haul legs then the pay for many A380 crew may decrease markedly. If QF replace an A380 to LHR with a 787 via PER and transition the A380 instead to HKG that will start to impact things. A 787 daily from SYD and MEL to DFW to replace the A380 currently doing SYD- DFW would have an impact also. These are all options that QF have floated previously.
I don't reckon QF will be caught short of applicants in the short to medium term.