Scrumhalf crisis for Rebels

Stirzaker was a late withdrawal from the Rebels side that lost 3-44 to the Southern Kings in Round 10.

The Rebels will also be without Stirzaker's deputy in the No.9 jersey for a lengthy period.

Mick Snowden, who started against the Kings, is out for six weeks with a suspected syndesmosis injury.

"It's some sort of bone fragment in Nic's ankle that flared up so I think he's going to be out for three weeks," Rebels' General Manager of Football Operations Baden Stephenson told AAP.

Ben Meehan will likely wear the No.9 jersey against the Lions, with Harrison Goddard recalled from the Australian Under-20 team.

"Harrison played particularly well for our U20s team and did the whole pre-season with us so we've called him back," Stephenson said.

"It will probably be his chance to make a debut on Saturday."

The injury crisis is so bad in Melbourne that they toured South Africa with six players who were not on contract.

"It has been relentless and we've had so many different types of injuries," Stephenson said.

"We thought by mid-season we should be getting a fair few back but unfortunately as they come back we continue to lose more."

Source: AAP (sbs.com.au)